Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani addressing the gathering.
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, affirmed that the State of Qatar is continuing to strengthen its position as a reliable international partner, source of energy, and destination for investments and tourism, in order to achieve its National Vision 2030, the most important of which is the transition to a diversified and innovative economy.
He said, in a speech during the opening session of the third edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, that this approach requires everyone to plan, be flexible, responsive, and show perseverance, especially after Qatar presented the best version of the FIFA World Cup on all levels, and for the first time in an Arab country.
He highlighted that the resilience of the Qatari economy despite international crises, and the strength of the health system during the pandemic (COVID-19), and the role the country plays in the global energy market are not by chance, but were a result of a wise vision from the leadership, years of planning, and belief in the country’s human capital of citizens and residents and providing them with the necessary capabilities to unleash their abilities to the benefit of diversifying the economy and the advancement of the country.
He added that moving forward will require learning lessons from the past, highlighting that this approach was a strategic choice the State of Qatar follows nationally and developmentally.
He highlighted that the resilience of the Qatari economy despite international crises, and the strength of the health system during the pandemic (COVID-19), and the role the country plays in the global energy market are not by chance, but were a result of a wise vision from the leadership, years of planning, and belief in the country’s human capital of citizens and residents and providing them with the necessary capabilities to unleash their abilities to the benefit of diversifying the economy and the advancement of the country.
He noted that the policies and projects adopted by the State of Qatar over the past two decades have contributed to the establishment of a strong, stable and solid infrastructure in a strategic location that combines the East and West. It is home to the best airport and best airlines in the world, one of the largest green ports in the world, and the first super speed 5G network commercially available, with one of the most flexible and adaptive sovereign funds.
He said that the non-oil sector in Qatar achieved a growth of 9.9 percent, and the oil sector recorded an increase of 4.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, and that Qatari efforts led to the establishment of strong financial institutions and the creation of the foundations for a work environment that encourages the growth of business.
In terms of diversification in the field of energy, the country inaugurated the first solar power station in Qatar. This station is set to provide about 10% of the energy used in the national electricity grid at peak times, he added.
He also highlighted the country’s interest in promoting the important role of Small and Medium Enterprises in achieving prosperity, noting that the country constantly works on launching initiatives to support these companies with the aim of enhancing entrepreneurship.
The Prime Minister explained that the Qatar Economic Forum is an important platform for discussing the most important economic issues and challenges facing the world today, and for discussing ways to address them in a spirit of cooperation and innovation. He said that the world can build a global economy that achieves common aspirations through joint action and the exchange of expertise and knowledge.
