Assistant to the CEO of Dar Al Sharq, Jassim Fakhro (pictured above), has said Qatar is playing a key role in several sectors including politics, economic, sports, culture and tourism.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Silk Road Exhibition & One Belt, One Road Conference yesterday at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), Fakhro said that Qatar today is one of the most important catalysts for investment in the region, thanks to its excellent management and strategic location which make it as a commercial platform and a meeting point for the countries of the world, which in turn provides an opportunity for foreign companies looking to expand their business in Qatar and regional countries.
“The Silk Road has historically been known as a group of land and sea routes that have linked Asia, the Middle East and Europe for hundreds of years with trade, cultural and religious ties, through which trades of goods and products were used to be exchanged between continents and knowledge and different cultures passed among the nations,” said Fakhro.
He said that the Silk Road evolved over time and with changing geopolitical contexts throughout history and cities full of life built and grew along the road and around commercial ports. “Today, maritime trade has become very important in this global trading network and the Middle East played a pivotal role in the Silk Road trade given the geographical location of Asia and Europe,” said Fakhro.
He said that in the early 1990s, efforts to build the new Silk Road began, including that is known as the Eurasian Land Bridge, sometimes called the New Silk Road, or Belt and Road Initiative is the rail transport route for moving freight and passengers overland between Pacific seaports in the Russian Far East and China and seaports in Europe.
“The first cargo train connecting China directly to the UK arrived London in early 2017, after 18-day journey of 12,000 kilometers,” said Fakhro.
He said that in 2013, China launched the ‘One Belt and One Road’ initiative, the largest economic project ever launched by China. It includes railway, highway, port, aviation and power network projects worth over $ 1.2 trillion covering the regions of China, West Asia and Europe. He said that so far about 65 countries, including 17 Arab countries and Qatar is one them, joined the initiative.
“In Qatar, we learned that the world is not waiting for anyone and that the train is on its way, whether you are on board or not. We must make our own silk road to be part of the many ways that lead to what we aspire to achieve nation-building and human well-being, and to be an important and effective part of international construction and cooperation to enrich humanity,” said Fakhro.
He said that under the leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030 has been one of the most important roads.
“Since its launch, Qatar has spent billions of dollars on its infrastructure to build the airport, ports, roads, electricity and water networks,” said Fakhro. He said that Qatar promulgated laws and regulations that led to the strengthening of economic activities and aspects in the country, and the development of economic cooperation and prosperity between the countries of the region and the world.
He said that The Financial Times witnessed the development of Qatar in one of its edition published a week ago: ‘Qatar has completed its infrastructure development projects of 20 years in two years’.
“Today, we share with you and the world another event of economic meetings and events at Silk Road Exhibition & One Belt, One Road Conference, which will discuss ‘Maritime Logistics’ and ‘Security and Safety in Supply Chain and Logistics’,” said Fakhro.
He said that the exhibition and conference will introduce the different sectors working in the field of transport, shipping and logistics under one roof In order to meet investors, experts and decision makers to exchange experiences and open new horizons for investments between the parties and participating countries.
“These meetings will provide Qatari companies with access to all the new and useful developments and global experiences, as well as international companies to see the size of development and growth in the business sector and handling global trade with Qatari companies and ports,” said Fakhro.
