Qatar Chamber's Chairman: Public-Private Partnership Achieve Sustainable Development

HE Chairman of Qatar Chamber Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani said that the partnership between the public and private sectors in the country is currently in its best, stressing that the private sector's commitment to undertaking entrusted role, and contributing positively in all sectors promotes the multilateral efforts to achieve the sustainable development.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Qatar Chamber's Chairman said that the speech of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at the opening of the 45th ordinary session of the Advisory Council last November showed keenness for the achievement of a partnership between the public and private sectors, allowing government projects to be implemented by the private sector, an the promotion of foreign investment in Qatar.
HE also praised wise leadership's keenness to support the participation of the private sector in the projects offered by the state, giving an opportunity for Qatari companies to be an important and key player in these projects, especially since the country is witnessing the establishment of large-scale projects in the coming years with the ongoing preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as the projects listed in the development strategy of the state and Qatar National Vision 2030, pointing out that the Chamber started to prepare a draft project for a partnership between the public and private sectors that will strengthen it, especially in light of stakeholders efforts to relieve all bureaucratic complications, attracting more capital and investment to the State of Qatar.
HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani added that Qatar Chamber spotted a number of obstacles faced by businessmen and investors, including the need of some laws to be reconsidered to keep pace with economic growth, in addition to the need to put up industrial land at reasonable prices, provide commercial streets, streamline recruitment procedures and assign projects to Qatari companies, calling for removal of all restrictions and barriers that prevent private sector to play its role.
He also demanded to give the private sector a real opportunity to participate in implementing projects due to be established in the state and in all economic activities.
HE hailed the directives of HE Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani to solve the problems faced by the private sector, along with the existing coordination with HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani on strengthening the partnership between the two sectors and the monitoring of all the obstacles facing the private sector to remove them to contribute in building the country's economy.
About the Qatari private sector's ability to engage in a challenge posed by economic development's projects, HE Chairman of the Chamber said that the private sector cannot engage in a challenge in the implementation of economic projects without turning the directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, aimed at supporting the private sector, into reality by all executive bodies in the state.
He added that laws and regulations are required to provide immunity to the private sector to face foreign companies, calling on government entities and institutions to stop establishing companies that compete with the private sector, and to support and encourage it to invest in the industrial sector, as it is the best way to diversify income sources. 
HE pointed out to the desire and willingness among Qatari business owners and companies to complete and implement these projects or get satisfactory stakes in them or in partnership with foreign companies as key contractors in the industrial sector which is one of the most vital sectors, that will witness a great development, especially in the field of small and medium enterprises, in light of the trend towards diversification of income sources adopted by the general strategy of the state.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani also said that Qatari companies have the experience and quality that enable them to engage in large-scale projects, warning that the obstacles to get lands for the establishment of industrial projects remain a problem, expressing hope that these obstacles to be overcome with the development of economic zones.
Regarding his assessment of the march of the Chamber and its role in the diversification of the productive base of the State of Qatar and the support of its payments budget, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim said that the Chamber was able to prove its presence the GCC, Arab and international levels and it has positive participations in the local and international forums,events and conferences that contribute to the definition of Qatari business community and investment environment.
He underlined that the chamber's strategy is going according to Qatar National Vision 2030 in the importance of reducing dependence on the energy sector as a major source of income, diversifying income sources and investing in all sectors.
HE Chairman of Qatar Chamber said that the exchange of trade delegations between the Chamber and other business entities bring the distance closer between Qatari businessmen and their counterparts from all over the world and united them under one umbrella for discussion and to find suitable partners, adding that delegations' visits contribute in the definition of Qatari business society and market, stressing that Qatar is an attractive destination for foreign investment. 
HE Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani said that the purpose of holding "Made in Qatar" exhibition abroad is to promote the Qatari products. 
He said that the first lunch of the exhibition in Riyadh has achieved a significant participation and presence of senior Saudi officials and business owners and contributed in defining the Saudi consumer of development achieved by the Qatari industry. 
HE said that it was also a good chance to hold meetings, events and joint business forum, during which ways to increase joint investments between the two countries were discussed, and was an opportunity to explore ways to take advantage of Qatari and Saudi Arabian Industries in promoting intra-regional trade, searching for investment opportunities available in both countries and encouraging Qatari and Saudi businessmen to establish joint economic projects that serve the two brotherly countries. 
About the easy access of business owners to the financing, Qatar Chamber's Chairman said that all indicators show that there is a desire from the Qatari wise leadership and government to support private sector's participation in economic development and provide a greater role for it. 
He added that the issue of funding is an obstacle facing business owners in some areas, but he expressed confidence that the Qatari banking system is capable of supporting business owners and investors' projects to meet the ambitions of economic growth in various fields. 
And on regard of promoting a social responsibility culture at the corporate level and the support of the various activities of community, HE said that the Chamber is making intensive efforts to encourage and support the initiatives and programs of the social responsibility by supporting initiatives and programs of sustainability, raising awareness among companies of the importance of the adoption of social responsibility initiatives to integrate into society issues, and provide real participation in the economic and social development. 
Regarding the suitability of the existing legislations to achieve greater trade liberalization and integration into the global market, HE the Chamber's Chairman said that the existing legislations still need to be developed in some aspects so that they keep pace with economic developments, so they can meet the ambitions and aspirations of the Qatari businessmen, but he said that the recently issuance of laws or bills in this regard stresses that there is interest on developing the legislative and legal structure, encouraging and motivating the private sector and facilitating business development. 
HE stressed the importance of the availability of economic information and data for business owners because it gives them an indication about the economic process and new projects, adding that Qatar Chamber provides for business owners what they need of information and data on economic activity, as the annual report of Qatar Chamber includes a study of economic indicators, in addition to what the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics of periodical statistics and data on economic activity.
HE pointed out that the Chamber continues its strategy of increasing the proportion of Qatarization, and keen to take advantage from the Qatari cadres according to a deliberate plan in line with Qatar's strategy, indicating that the Chamber is interested in empowering Qatari youth in jobs that fit their abilities and potentials, who are willing to contribute to the achievement of the objective of Qatar Chamber and its success in general. 
Regarding the challenges to develop the cooperation between the GCC Chambers, Chairman of Qatar Chamber said that the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is working on a permanent basis to enhance cooperation between the GCC Chambers. 
HE also pointed to the existence of a sustained and permanent coordination between the GCC Chambers in various issues that support the development of GCC private sector and strengthen GCC bilateral trade, which rose from $15 billion in 2002 to about $115 billion in 2015, where the GCC Customs Union and the Gulf Common Market shares in raise that value. 
HE explained that allowing GCC companies to open branches in GCC states and to be treated as National companies, which came at the end of the Abu Dhabi summit in December 2010, confirms the keenness of the GCC wise leaderships in the economic integration.

Source: QNA