Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al-Thani said that Qatar Economic Forum reflects the country’s status as an influential economic player.
The minister said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the forum, which will be held from June 20 to 22, is a platform for discussing solutions to the issues and challenges the world is facing.
He said the forum, in cooperation with Bloomberg, reflects Qatar’s keenness to enhance international cooperation to achieve a just economic recovery that includes all countries, especially developing and least developed countries.
Sheikh Mohammed said the recovery should be such that enhances the ability of these countries to overcome the economic repercussions of Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis, especially its impact on markets commodities, trade and the financial sector.
He said the forum reflects the strategic position of Qatar as an influential economic player in the region, adding it is a leading center for important international events where thinkers and experts discuss solutions and mechanisms to address development issues.
The minister said, “From this standpoint, we aspire that this forum will represent an annual international platform that brings together leaders of countries, heads of government, experts from around the world and senior officials of international companies to develop innovative and new perceptions of issues that concern the global economy.”
This year’s edition of the forum throws light on a number of issues, including achieving equality in the long-term global economic recovery equation, the future of global markets and prospects for globalization, ways to support global supply chains, transformations in the energy sector and the green economy, and mechanisms to cut carbon emissions.
The forum will discuss the economic strategies adopted to diversify sources of income in a way that contributes to reducing climate change, eliminating poverty, reducing inflation and protecting the environment.
The forum will discuss investment opportunities in the sports sector, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, future technology prospects and ways to help Africa in the 21st century.
Sheikh Mohammed said this year’s edition of the forum is an additional building block for the positive results achieved during the first edition held in 2021. It attracted over 600 speakers, including a number of heads of state, business leaders and policy experts in various sectors, from over 120 countries.
He said, “The forum aims to prepare plans that support the growth of the global economy during the post-pandemic stage, and to rethink the prospects for the world economy through the perspective of the Middle East and North Africa region.”
He added, “The importance of the forum lies in its ability to take advantage of the current situation to create a new platform for innovation and dialogue between countries to chart a new path and build a better future for the coming generations.”
Sheikh Mohammed said the forum helps to highlight Qatar as a leading investment destination and the incentives offered to investors, entrepreneurs and major international companies in both the non-oil and value-added sectors.
He said Qatar provides incentives especially in areas that serve Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2018-2022, which aim to establish a diversified and competitive knowledge-based economy.
The minister said developments that have been achieved in implementing major projects as per the national vision and for hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be reviewed.
Sheikh Mohammed said the forum helps review Qatar’s efforts and commitment to the global multilateral trading system, enhance its economic openness and strengthen cooperation with various trading partners around the world.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic revealed the fragility of the global development systems. The pandemic also deepened the educational, health and the economic gap between developed and developing countries.
The minister said the forum will work to mobilize and consolidate international solidarity and to chart future directions to bridge the gaps.
He said the forum will bring the paths of recovery closer and lay the foundations for building an integrated social and economic system that will achieve the goals of sustainable global development 2030.