HH The Emir talks tough about changing Qatari style of functioning

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated the 45th ordinary session of the Advisory Council on Tuesday.

A slew of top officials, including ministers, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the state and the state’s dignitaries, attended the opening.

He called on Qatari citizens to give more to their country.

“Sometimes, dear brothers, when I see billboards on the streets that read ‘Qatar deserves the best,’ I say it would be more correct to read ‘Qatar deserves the best from its citizens.’ There’re challenges that we should tackle, which are related to the motives and values of the youths and the impact of the culture of consumption on these motives and values.

“Without that, we cannot move forward. Wealth alone isn’t sufficient. Citizenship is an affiliation, which incorporates rights on the part of the State as well as duties towards the community and the State,” HH The Emir said.

“In Qatar, we’ve to be fully aware of our reality. We’ve accomplished a lot and we can accomplish more, but we’ve to set out from the prevalent reality and not from wishful thinking,” he said.

While acknowledging that the country was facing problems due to the sharp fall of petroleum prices, he said it would not affect their future plans.

“The economic affairs remain a matter of prime concern for us especially in light of the circumstances created by the sharp decline in hydrocarbons’ prices. But we are determined to proceed with our development plans to achieve the goals we have drawn up in Qatar's National Vision,” HH the Emir said.

However, HH The Emir said that cuts on public spending and greater accountability would continue in the coming years.

“We’ve taken advantage of the drop in prices to explore the potential for rationalising spending, and distinguishing necessary from unnecessary as well as beneficial from non-beneficial. Work will continue on increasing the efficiency of public spending and enhancing transparency and control through a close follow-up of all government projects and programmes and focusing on major development projects,” he said.

He revealed that Qatar was in the process of launching the Second National Development Strategy 2017-2022.

According to him, the parameters of Qatar’s Second National Development Strategy can be summarised into ten parts.

ONE

Identifying the obstacles that hampered the implementation of some programmes and projects in the first national development strategy, thus learning lessons and avoiding recurrence.

TWO

Completing all projects associated with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in a timely manner.

THREE

Reviewing the country’s development priorities in light of new global changes.

FOUR

Identifying available opportunities to implement new programmes and projects compatible with sectoral and national priorities.

FIVE

Completing education and health projects according to highest global standards.

SIX

Eliminating bureaucratic impediments facing investments. Qatari government has pledged to implement the standardisation of transactions procedures and the ‘single window’ by the end of this year.

SEVEN

Stimulating private sector and directing it towards the most productive sectors, or service-cum-production ones that are compatible with the National Vision trends.

EIGHT

Transition from current scenario of state welfare programmes to one of action, where all segments of society participate in national development.

NINE

Continuous review of tariffs and fees for services and commodities to better reflect their economic cost. Subsidies will be strictly monitored so that it does not lead to extravagance and waste.

TEN

Developing and modernising public sector institutions in order to reach a distinctive public sector credited with efficiency, transparency and subject to accountability.

He also touched upon steps taken by the government to strengthen the private sector and increase their participation in nation building.

I

Implementation of the new government tenders’ law, which exempts small and medium businesses from some governmental requirements, like financial guarantees.

II

Updating trade laws and legislations to liberalise certain goods and services from the commercial agents’ monopoly and permit non-agents to import them. Competition will be boosted in more sectors.

III

Updating corporate laws and legislations and method of drafting financial statements of companies so as to comply with the international standards.

IV

Acting on finalising a law on partnership between the public and private sectors, which will enable awarding government projects to the private sector as well as ensuring their high-quality and low cost implementation. It will help further promote foreign investment in Qatar.

V

Qatar Development Bank to encourage small and medium businesses through direct and indirect financing.

VI

Developing huge housing complexes for workers at the industrial area as well as in the economic and logistical zones.