Private sector in Qatar has emerged stronger after the unjust siege was imposed on Qatar. Thanks to the proactive steps taken by concerned authorities, the private sector became more resilient during siege.
The Ministerial Group for the Encouragement and Participation of the Private Sector provided investment opportunities to the Qatari private sector with a total value of QR26bn, said a senior officially recently. These projects covered areas of food security, construction, healthcare, education, logistics, tourism, and industry.
Director of Technical Committee for the encouragement and participation of the private sector Khamis Al Mohannadi said that the Ministerial Group had formed large task forces specialised in addressing the challenges and difficulties facing the private sector, and was able to make great achievements during the siege period.
Al Mohannadi highlighted the sectors and projects launched during the past period, as the siege period witnessed the awarding of a number of projects and other started production, while there are projects still under study and discussion, noting that among the most important current projects are food security related projects.
Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani had directed to allocate a budget to support agricultural production in the next five years, he said. In addition, he also directed to form a team to study the major challenges that Qatari farmers face.
The Qatari farms production recorded an increase between January 2017 to January 2018 by 300 percent, an increase that has been monitored through the country’s national agricultural product clusters and outlets.
Among the most important results of the siege was the formation of a committee to monitor the strategies and policies of food security in the country, with a view to drawing up the strategy and plans for this sector. It also monitors the risks to the food security system in the country, in addition to considering the strategic tock of food security, and coordinating with the competent authorities to introduce more private sector projects.
In the education sector, the Ministerial Group has allocated 7 land plots as a first stage for private schools with QR750m investment by the private sector. The Ministerial Group would work to expand the small and medium industries by launching 150 industrial plots, equipped with the entire infrastructure, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019, while the volume of private sector investment is expected to reach QR2.5bn.
It is clear that the siege has opened new horizons for the Qatari economy and strengthened private sector in the country.