Ministry of Commerce & Industry, QBA to set up Joint Follow-up Committee

    DOHA, QATAR, January 20, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Peninsula

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) will establish a Joint Follow-up Committee, which will serve as a direct communication channel to discuss economic initiatives between both sides, and to facilitate joint cooperation in the implementation of programmes and initiatives undertaken by the Ministry and its proper delivery to the business community, it was announced yesterday.

The Joint Follow-up Committee is one of a number of initiatives which had been approved during a meeting which was attended by the Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari and hosted by the QBA at its headquarters in Doha recently. During the meeting, which was headed by QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, QBA members discussed several economic ideas and aspirations with the Minister, all of which aim to enhance the role of the Qatari private sector and the facilitation of its work.

The Minister's visit also aimed at reinforcing communication with the Qatari business community and Qatari businessmen, exchanging views and informing them of the Ministry's initiatives which are being implemented in the service of the national economy and its development.

The meeting began with Sheikh Faisal and the QBA members thanking the Minister for his visit, highlighting the importance of joint and close cooperation between the public and private sectors to serve the national economy.

They also discussed the effective economic initiatives of various policies, legislation and projects being implemented under the guidance of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which seeks to empower national institutions and encourage businessmen to penetrate the industrial sector. These initiatives were adopted by the Qatari government led by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani through various ministries.

Several legislations were issued, such as the new investment law, the Free Zones Authority, the Single Window, Storage areas, and others, all of which secure the appropriate infrastructure to develop national production and achieve self-sufficiency. The MoCI also plays a significant role in the speedy implementation of the initiatives and its interaction with the needs of the business community.

Speaking during the event, the Minister stressed the important role of the QBA as well as the business community in promoting Qatar as a centre for investment in the region, and in attracting investors and expertise through economic activities led by the association through conferences, workshops. The Minister also reiterated QBA's cooperation with various business & economic institutions and associations in most markets around the world, as well as the delegations led by Qatari businessmen to foreign markets, which help promote the Qatari market and opens horizons of cooperation with global markets.

The Minister added that the development of the private sector in developed countries is a main indicator of the development of the state and a key driver of economic development. He added that Qatari economic institutions and companies have become globally competitive and exist in major European and American markets through successful investments which have served the goals of developing the national economy and transferring expertise and knowledge to the local market.

The meeting was also attended by QBA First Deputy Chairman Hussein Al Fardan, QBA Secretary General Issa Abu Issa. QBA Board Members Sheikh Hamad Bin Faisal, Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser, Sherida Al Kaabi, Saud Al Mana, and other QBA members Nasser Al Haider, Khaled Al Mannai, Nabila Abu Issa, Ashraf Abu Issa, Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal, Sheikh Faisal Bin Fahad, Maqbool Khalfan, Ramez Al Khyat, Mohamed Althaf, Hamad Al Hedfa and Ihsan Al Khiyami also attended the meeting.

Sheikh Turki bin Faisal, Abdulsalam Abu Issa, Sheikh Nasser bin Nawaf and QBA Deputy General Manager Sarah Abdallah were also present during the event. At the end of the meeting, Sheikh Faisal presented the QBA honorary shield to the Minister and wished him all the success in serving and thriving the national economy.

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