Amir of State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani patronized the opening ceremony of the 4th edition of Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg this morning.

3-Day conference is held under the theme  ‘A World Remade: Navigating the Year of Uncertainty’ at Katara Towers – Fairmont Doha.

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani made the opening address followed by panel discussion with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani; a panel with President of Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda; and another panel with Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Anwar Ibrahim.

Among other dignatories present on the opening session of 4th Qatar Economic Forum were President of Republic of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr.; President-elect and Minister of Defense of Republic of Indonesia, Gen. Prabowo Subianto;  Speaker of Shura Council, Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim; a number of ministers representing sisterly and friendly countries; heads of  diplomatic missions;  high-ranking officials; parliamentarians, thinkers; economists; businessmen; members of media; and representatives of regional and international organizations.

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of State of Qatar,  affirmed that as embodied in Qatar National Vision 2030, the State of Qatar has successfully navigated significant challenges, leading to the flexibility that characterizes its economy and positioning it competitively on the global stage, with efficient investment in natural resources and human energies.

He stated that the Qatari economy continues to achieve indicators reflecting its stability and prosperity, adding that the gross domestic product at constant prices until the third quarter of 2023 recorded growth of about 1.6 percent and this growth coincided with improvements in financial stability indicators, with the government adopting a flexible financial plan in response to fluctuations in energy prices.

He further said that Qatar is on its way towards the final stages of Qatar National Vision 2030, with the government continuing to work on completing and enhancing Qatar’s diverse economic infrastructure, driven by initiatives from both the local and foreign private sectors, supported by a series of regulatory reforms and investment incentives, qualifying it to occupy an advanced position among the top 10 countries in terms of business environment.

Qatar’s prime minister highlighted Qatar’s transition towards comprehensive digital transformation through increased investment in technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence.

To achieve this, Qatar has allocated a package of incentives worth QR 9 billion, and the country is hosting several sessions of the “Web Summit” conference for the first time in the Middle East and Africa to enhance partnerships with major investors and exchange expertise with technology leaders worldwide, he added.

Alongside this summit, the ‘Startup Qatar’ project was launched, with more than 250 startups registered.

Prime Minster and Minister of Foreign of Qatar also announced the launch of the “Al Fanar” Arabic Artificial Intelligence project, which will primarily focus on collecting quality data in the Arabic language, contributing to enriching large linguistic models and preserving the Arab identity.

He said that the government will continue its investment in the energy sector, with Qatar expected to complete its expansion in natural gas production by 2030 through the North Field Expansion project, increasing total production to 142 million tons annually.

HE expressed his pride that Qatar has become a beacon of economic opportunities for many, attracting investors from around the world, due to the foundations it provides for economic success that helps uplift the region, allowing everyone to enjoy this prosperity.

Regarding the current global challenges and crises,  Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that the world has barely recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic before finding itself facing wars casting heavy shadows on everyone’s lives, unfolding in various parts of the world, particularly the Russian-Ukrainian war in Europe, the Sudanese crisis in Africa, and the latest challenges in the Gaza Strip, where the humanitarian crisis has worsened, claiming the lives of thousands of innocent children, women, and elderly individuals.

He emphasized that the State of Qatar was among the first to warn against the danger of the Gaza war spreading to other regions in the region, yet the world as a whole failed to prevent this, leading to the expansion of confrontations to the Red Sea, threatening international navigation and exacerbating the difficulties of global trade already suffering.

HE said that the multiple challenges resulting from these successive crises compel countries to work on improving economic conditions, as this contributes to creating oases of stability.

In hs concluding remarks, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani expressed his hope in the ability of nations to overcome challenges, stating that in Qatar, everyone is determined to bring about change to establish a better future, looking forward to seeing new investment opportunities through the platform of this forum.

 Later in evening, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani along with other dignitaries, top officials, experts; and leading business community members attended a gala dinner at the Hotel Fairmont Doha.