DOHA: The consultative meetings held by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani with the Qatari private sector have helped resolving most of the issues raised by Qatar Chamber, its Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammad Al Thani has said.
In an interview to QNA, he said over 80 percent of the 130 issues raised by the Chamber was solved at the meetings facilitated by the prime minister. The meetings tackled issues of concern to businessmen and investors, and established an unprecedented cooperation between the Chamber and the government institutions.
Sheikh Khalifa hailed the systematic partnership between the government and private sectors and underlined that it is the means to achieve sustainable development and excellence in the next round of infrastructure development projects. He praised the decisions made by the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment to set up a number of investment companies and to list the most important company (Doha Global Investment Company) in Qatar Exchange, which reflects the government sector’s abandonment of part of its ownership to the people, including the private sector and businessmen, and the strong approach to managing liquidity and take advantage of it in a proper way. He said that the establishment of several companies to invest in the areas of infrastructure and in projects with small capital abroad; and the establishment of two companies for the development of small and medium enterprises and to manage economic areas and others would give the Qatari economy added value and had positive impact on the private sector.
He also highlighted the cooperation accorded to the Chamber by the various government bodies such as the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Business and Trade, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Energy and Industry and others. Sheikh Khalifa noted that there are clear instructions from the Premier to provide businessmen with the opportunity to give their opinion on laws and legislations related to the Chamber activities before adopting them, which contributed to strengthen relations.
He said that the Qatari private sector must contribute to the economic development as that state is doing its job and is providing investors with land, finance and marketing.
On the forthcoming 8th World Chambers Congress, due to kick off next Monday, Sheikh Khalifa expressed hope that the conference will be the beginning for a new era of relations between the private sector and the governments around the world based on common and public interests rather that individual interests. He added that the Chamber also hopes to revive the “Doha Round” which was launched in 2001, and to make progress in the global trade talks; and even to incorporate new business convention for the 21st century.
The Peninsula
