The two-day Doha Forum 2019 which concluded yesterday not only provided a valuable platform to world leaders and policy makers to discuss governance issues but also proved to be a very productive event for Qatar for signing a number of strategic pacts with various global organizations and companies.
edAlong in-depth discussions on regional, global issues and ways to address international governance challenges and conflicts in the Doha Forum 2019, different Qatari institutions made new partnerships meant to realize Qatar National Vision 2030. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani on Saturday attended the signing of ‘Project Mobility Qatar’ agreement between Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Volkswagen Group, in a ceremony on the sideline of the Doha Forum 2019. Under the agreement, an advanced fleet of 4th generation self-driving electric buses will be inaugurated for the first time to announce the birth of a new era of urban transport in the capital of future for 2022.
The agreement affirms the State of Qatar’s keenness to adopt smart and environmentally friendly technologies, with the aim of developing a pilot project for self-driving transport, and transforming the future of urban mobility into a practical and sustainable application for self-driving bus services in the State of Qatar.
Yesterday, Minister of State and Chairman of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA), H E Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed, hosted a special ceremony for the signing of licenses for seven global companies to join the free zones.
The companies, which join a group of more than 50 registered projects and companies in the free zones, are Unistrong, Gaussin, China Harbor, Inventus Power, Thales Group, Volkswagen and Wasco Coatings. All seven will contribute significantly to the strength of the free zones and in turn to the growth and development of Qatar’s economy.
Minister of State and Chairman of QFZA, H E Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, said: “We are very proud to welcome seven leading global companies to Qatar Free Zones, joining a diversified list of over 50 approved and registered projects and companies.”
The companies will commence their operations in the free zones in the new year. The projects of the first group of companies represent a total investment of more than QR1.5bn in Qatar Free Zones. Separately, speaking at Doha Forum, CEO of Qatar Financial Center Authority, Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida, affirmed that during the past period, and through Qatar Financial Center, Qatar managed to attract a lot of foreign direct investments.
On the sidelines of Doha Forum 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also honored the two winners of the Qatar Global Award for Dialogue Among Civilizations in its second edition, which is supervised by the Qatari Committee for the Alliance of Civilization in the Ministry, and ISESCO Chair in Alliance of Civilizations at the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Qatar University.
