Category: Market

His Excellency Mr Sultan bin Rashid Al–Khater, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, participated in the Arab Forum entitled ‘Promoting Economic Integration among Arab Countries: Intra-trade and Role of Public and Private Sectors’. Organised by the Arab Parliament, in cooperation with the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO) of the League of Arab States, the Forum is being held fromMay 23 to 25 in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt.

H.E. Mr Al–Khater participated in the Forum’s sessions, which revolved around four axes covering many issues of common interest, such as the reality of Arab trade in light of regional blocs,therole of the private sector and the related challenges, development mechanisms and ways to reach an Arab customs union, and the issue of facilitating trade exchange with regards to global trends and the Arab reality. Moreover, the Forum reviewed the position of the Arab world among the indicators of global trade exchange.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

His Excellency Mr. Sultan bin Rashid Al-Khater, Undersecretary of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, headed Qatar’s delegation in the second extraordinary meeting of GCC’s undersecretaries of Industry, held in Riyadh.

Their excellencies, Undersecretaries discussed some of the topics on the agenda, that will contribute to improve Gulf countries joint actions, and promote their integrated industries. The meeting addressed adopting an integrated strategy to improve GCC’s Industries by seeking the increase of added value from manufacturing sector, and raising industrial competitiveness indicator worldwide, in addition to lifting private sector participation through SMEs.

During the meeting, update and modification the law of integrated industrial organization and its executive regulations were discussed as well, in order to fulfill GCC countries’ ambitions of building smart industries, and encourage the shift towards fourth industrial revolution based on innovation and sustainability.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced winning the Gold Stevie Award in the Innovation in Cross-Media Marketing category, at the Middle East and North Africa Stevie Awards ceremony, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, on May 21, 2022, under the sponsorship of Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The award was received by Mr. Tareq Hussain Al-Khalaf, Director of the Public Relations & Communication Department, and Mr Saif Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director of National Product Competitiveness Support Department. The award comes as the culmination of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s ceaseless efforts to enhance food security, develop local industries, and increase self-reliance in many key sectors, especially in light of sudden economic crises. Through this endeavour, the Ministry seeks achieving one of the main pillars of Qatar’s vision of building a competitive and diversified economy capable of meeting the needs of society at present and in the future.

In this context, the Ministry launched a cross-media marketing campaign at the State level, in addition to holding community activities, and promotions in commercial centres. The Ministry highlighted the quality and competitiveness of locally-made products, to address consumer preference for international brands. The campaign also aims to improve export capabilities through expanding opportunities for Qatari factory owners, thus providing them with a wide manufacturing base and increased market access.

The interactive campaign activities covered all important sectors including food, beverages, medical materials, textiles, paper, prints, electrical materials, furniture, wood, plastics, rubber, petroleum, building materials, metals, machinery, and manufacturing industries.

It is worth noting that the Middle East and North Africa Stevie Awards are the world’s premier business awards. With their three categories: gold, silver and bronze, the awards are dedicated to honouring the largest organizations in innovation in the business sector across 17 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, including: Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, Algeria, Lebanon, and Turkey.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

An Emirati trade mission, headed by Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali, conducted an official visit to Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from 8th to 14th May, 2022.

The UAE delegation comprised representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Ministry of Education, Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UAE FCCI), Artificial Intelligence Office, Mubadala, Masdar, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD), Etihad Rail, Dubai FDI, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Future Foundation, and Sharjah FDI, as well as Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP).

The delegation’s visit aimed to broaden and deepen economic relations, as well as promote bilateral trade and investment.

A number of agreements were signed during the visit, including an MoU between the UAE and Finland in the field of energy; an MoU between Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Final Terms of Reference of the UAE-Estonia Business Council; an MoU between UAE FCCI and the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia; an MoU between SRTIP and Red Jackets; and an MoU between UAE FCCI and the Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Crafts.

The delegation participated in a number of high-level and technical meetings, including those held with the Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs, the Finnish Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, the Estonian Prime Minister, the Estonian Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology, the Latvian Minister of Economy, the Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation, the Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Economy and Innovation, and the Mayor of Vilnius.

The delegation also conducted site visits to Helsinki Educational Hub, Nokia, Wärtsilä, and Vilnius City Municipality, and attended a number of key bilateral meetings including the UAE-Estonia Business Seminar, the 2nd Session of the UAE-Estonia Business Council, and the UAE-Latvia Business Forum.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

In the presence of His Excellency Mr. Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al–Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Her Excellency Mrs. Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism of the Kingdom of Spain, inauguratedthe Qatari-Spanish Business Meeting, organisedat the headquarters of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) in Madrid.

The opening session of the business meeting was attended by H.E. Mr. Antonio Garamendi, President of CEOE, H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association, H.E. Mr. Jose Luis Bonet, President of the Spain Chamber of Commerce, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber, Mr. Ignacio Galán, Co-President of the Qatari- Spain Business Committee from the Spanish side, and H.E. Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani Al-Thani, Co- President of the Qatari-Spain Business Committee from the Qatari side.

At the onset of his opening speech, His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Kingdom of Spain for its warm reception and hospitality, shining a spotlight at the strong, solid relations between the two countries.

H.E. touched on the Qatari-Spanish economic relations, pointing out that they had witnessed significant development during the past years. The volume of trade exchange between the two countries witnessed growth of about 44% between 2020 and 2021 to reach around $1.2 billion last year.

On the investment front, the number of Spanish companies operating in Qatar has reached about 220 companies that are active in a number of economic and vital fields, H.E. further stated, highlighting that the State of Qatar had made investments in the strategic sectors that support the Spanish economy, including those of tourism, sports, and real estate.

H.E. added that the agreements signed between the two sides during the past years had also contributed to consolidating Qatari-Spanish bilateral relations. Moreover, H.E. expressed his happiness with establishing the Qatari-Spanish Business Council, aimed at providing a platform and a starting point for enhancing economic and investment cooperation.

“We are aware of the importance of partnership in ensuring strengthening interstate bilateral relations. Therefore, the State of Qatar considers the Kingdom of Spain a promising strategic partner given the significant economic factors that characterise our two nations,” H.E. the Minister of Commerce and Industry said.

In this context, H.E. referred to the position of the State of Qatar as a leading investment destination in the region and the world, owing to its advanced business environment based on a stimulating legislative and administrative system and a robust infrastructure designed and built according to the highest international standards. These advantages instilled the State of Qatar in a strategic position as a logistical gateway for expanding towards markets in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

In this regard, H.E. drew attention to the role played by Qatari ports, including Hamad Port, a key commercial port in the region. Many other major institutions play a significant role in promoting Qatar’s economic openness, and attracting major companies and investors from all over the world, H.E. added.

These gains contributed to enhancing the strength and durability of the Qatari economy, H.E. further stated, adding that according to the latest World Bank estimates, the Qatari economy was expected to grow by 4.9% in 2022.

In this context, H.E. referred to the remarkable performance of the non-oil sectors, whose contribution to the country’s GDP amounted to about 63.2% in 2021.

Moreover, H.E. pointed out the efforts made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to develop the contribution of the manufacturing sector.

H.E. also referred to the rapid development witnessed by the telecommunications and information technology sector in Qatar at the level of technical infrastructure and fifth generation optical networks, which contributed to Qatar having a leading position in the MENA region as reflected in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services (GEMS) Maturity Index for the year 2021, according to a report issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

In a related context, H.E. expressed his appreciation of the continuous Qatari and Spanish efforts to establish regulatory frameworks for bilateral cooperation between the two countries. In this regard, H.E. referred to the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed between the two sides in the field of digital services, agricultural production, and joint cooperation between both countries’ business sectors.

At the conclusion of his speech, H.E. expressed his aspiration that the Business Meeting would contribute to advancing the distinguished Qatari-Spanish bilateral relations towards broader horizons of cooperation and joint action.

H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al–Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Her Excellency Mrs. Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism of the Kingdom of Spain, witnessed the signing ceremony of two MoUs between Qatar Chamber and each of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services.

In the signing, the Qatari side was represented by His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber. From the Spanish side, the MoUs weresigned by His Excellency Mr. José Luis Bonet, President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and His Excellency Mr. Ángel Asensio, President of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services.

The MoUs aim to strengthen bridges of dialogue between the Qatari and Spanish business sectors and to consolidate cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, services, as well as other economic fields.

His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry witnessed the signing of an MoU between the Qatari Businessmen Association and Iberdrola Company. From the Qatari side, the MoU was signed by His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, Second Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatari Businessmen Association. From the Spanish side, it was signed by Mr. Ignacio Galán, Chairman and CEO of Iberdrola Company.

Moreover, His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry attended the signing of an MoU between the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar and Iberdrola Company, aimed at establishing a global innovation center to support digital transformation in the State of Qatar. The said MoU was signed by Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar, from the Qatari side. As for the Spanish side, it was signed by Mr. Santiago Bañales, Managing Director of Iberdrola Innovation in the Middle East.

The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of digital services, as well as to tap into the potential of the research, development, and innovation environment in the State of Qatar.

His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry also saw the signing of an MoU between Hassad Food Company and Integra Agricultura Y Tecnologia, aimed at recycling the surplus agricultural production.

From the Qatari side, the MoU was signed byH.E. Eng. Mohammed Badr Al-Sada, CEO of Hassad Food Company, while from the Spanish side, it was signed by Mr. Esteban Barrachina, CEO of Integra Agricultura Y Tecnología.

The MoU in question seeks to develop innovative local projects that contribute to achieving food security for the State of Qatar, preserving local agricultural resources, and increasing local production of fodder.

The meeting featured a dialogue session on investment opportunities in the State of Qatar, during which visual presentations were made by His Excellency Sheikh Ali Al Waleed Al–Thani, CEO of the Investment Promotion AgencyQatar, Mr. Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO and Board Member of the Qatar Financial Centre, His Excellency Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, Deputy CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority and Mr. Yosouf Al-Salehi, Executive Director of Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP).

The presentations highlighted the performance of the national economy, the investment opportunities available in Qatar, as well as Qatar’s business environment, advanced logistical infrastructure, and promising economic sectors.

Moreover, the Meeting included a dialogue session on Qatari-Spanish economic and trade relations. The said dialogue session featured the participation of a number of Spanish authorities specialised in renewable energies, engineering, sports, and media.

The Business Meeting also comprised a number of bilateral side-meetings between businessmen from both sides, during which they discussed ways to build investment partnerships in sectors that support both countries’ economies.

It is worth noting that the Qatari-Spanish Business Meeting aims to build bridges of communication, as well as enhance trade, investment, and industrial relations between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Spain. It also ambitions to create effective partnerships and attract new investments to the Qatari market.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

As part of its efforts to implement one of the most important Ministerial Resolution on attestations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has launched a new integrated system, in collaboration with several UAE government entities, to enhance the customer experience and facilitate doing business.

These upgrades are part of a framework of reforms that include digitisation, and aim to advance the realisation of UAE Government objectives.

The new system, which includes the digitisation of all services, will help enhance the ease of doing business. As part of the first phase, MoFAIC is working on reshaping attestation services provided to customers, especially entrepreneurs and companies, to streamline procedures and boost the quality of service, to meet their business requirements.

The first phase is being rolled out in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE), the Federal Customs Authority and local customs departments.

Building on its keenness on boosting government integration and cooperation with other UAE government entities to improve government performance and the quality of services, MoFAIC exerts great efforts by engaging customers to optimise their experience and ensure the delivery of a smooth-running online attestation experience.

In line with its efforts to boost cooperation between government entities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MoIAT, under which MoFAIC will review, through the MoIAT e-services platform, attestations and related fees payable by investors in the industrial sector, to streamline attestation services. The MoU serves to optimise MoFAIC’s services to further showcase the UAE’s conducive investment environment.

The new system will also help regulate and streamline certain trade-related banking procedures through a collaboration between MoFAIC and UAE banks, as part of an agreement with the CBUAE aimed at enhancing the quality of these services and implementing relevant decisions.

The next phase will see enhanced ease in using online attestation services, with improved ease of access and service delivery times, which will, in turn, contribute to boosting the UAE’s economy and its allure as an ideal digitally advanced hub for businesses, entrepreneurs and investors.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, His Excellency Mr. Sultan bin Rashid Al-Khater, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the Fifth Conference on Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED), themed ‘Entrepreneurial Digital Transformation’, oragnised by Qatar University in cooperation with the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait.

At the outset of his opening speech, H.E. Mr Al-Khater stressed the importance of CEED, which highlights ‘Entrepreneurial Digital Transformation’, especially in light of the great and unprecedented development witnessed by information and communication technology (ICT), following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic contributed to reducing the run-up to implementing long-term digital transformation plans from years to a mere few months, H.E. Mr Al-Khater stated. Countries moved towards accelerating the adoption of technological solutions to address the economic consequences of the pandemic and achieve business continuity in various vital sectors, seeking to balance and stabilise their economies.

As Qatar recognises the vital role that digital technology plays in supporting the growth of the national economy, the State has sought to motivate various government agencies to: adopt advanced technical solutions to shorten and facilitate procedures, abolish paper transactions, and digitise all services, H.E. Mr Al Khater said. This endeavour contributes to developing the business environment, according to a clear strategy aimed at building an advanced digital economy that achieves the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030).

In this regard, H.E. drew attention to the keenness of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to cooperate and coordinate with various relevant government agencies and bodies with the aim of accelerating and shortening the procedures for granting approvals and licenses necessary for establishing businesses.

The Ministry has also made sure to provide access to these services through its smart electronic Single Window platform, which aims to assist investors during the various stages of establishing a business, starting from the planning stages, through the registration procedures, to issuing the necessary licenses through an electronic interface that connects investors to about 18 government agencies through a single platform.

Moreover, the Ministry launched the 1000 Opportunities initiative, which forms part of the Single Window e-platform, H.E. Mr Al-Khater said, pointing out that the said initiative allowed local investors and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to view the existing and future opportunities and projects that would meet their projects’ various needs, whether in terms of products or services, which would be provided by local private sector companies.

As part of developing e-services provided to entrepreneurs and small investors, the Ministry launched the Qatar Business Map portal on its website, H.E. Mr Al-Khater pointed out.

The Qatar Business Map portal aims at providing a database that contributes to facilitating the access of emerging and small projects to target customers, in addition to helping entrepreneurs to choose the ideal site for establishing their businesses.

H.E. explained that these programmes and initiatives aim to support Qatar’s leading position in various specialised economic reports in this field. In this regard, H.E. Mr Al-Khater referred to the 2020 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report, which states that Qatar ranked first globally in terms of Employee Entrepreneurial Activity (EEA) that serves the national economy. Moreover, Qatar ranked first in the MENA region and fourth globally in the best supportive government policies in the field of taxes and bureaucratic procedures, as well as the first in the MENA region and fifth globally in entrepreneurship education and training at the university and vocational levels.

H.E. Mr Al-Khater said efforts were underway to develop more programmes and initiatives, and remove all obstacles facing the various private sector components, especially entrepreneurship. Moreover, the said private sector components are being directed towards sectors that support Qatar’s national economy, H.E. Mr Al-Khater added.

H.E. stressed the keenness of the State of Qatar to establish tools and programmes to enhance the ability of young entrepreneurs to contribute to economic growth and develop their entrepreneurial projects to form a key part of the national economy’ pillars.

At the conclusion of his speech, His Excellency the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry called on the entrepreneurship sector to present innovative and new projects and ideas in future sectors and industries, so as to support Qatar’s journey towards transitioning into a knowledge-based digital economy.

CEED aims to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences to advance and develop entrepreneurship research in the region. CEED also seeks to enhance research cooperation between all participants in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation, and to develop sustainable policies that address economic, social, and environmental challenges.

In this year’s edition, CEED tackles a number of topics related to digital transformation, by hosting several Qatari, Arab, and international experts and researchers. CEED also features sessions for key speakers in the field of entrepreneurship and digital transformation, as well as entrepreneurship policies. The conference also includes various discussion panels on entrepreneurial digital transformation and the entrepreneurship system in the Qatar, the Arab countries, and other countries of the world.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al–Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, met with Her Excellency Mrs. Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism of the Kingdom of Spain.

During the meeting, the officials discussed ways to develop bilateral relations between the two nations in various fields. Moreover, the meeting featured previewing a number of issues of common interest aimed at strengthening cooperation at the level of trade, investment, and industry.

During the meeting, His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry highlighted the successful economic policies Qatar had put in place to support the private sector, and pointed out the incentives, legislation, and promising opportunities available in Qatar that are aimed at encouraging Spanish investors, businessmen, and business owners to invest in Qatar.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry