The presence of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Arab Economic and Social Development summit in Beirut has once again proved to the international community that despite the illegal siege imposed on Qatar by the blockading countries, the country is stable, strong and is supporting development and economic stability in the Arab world, including Lebanon.
Qatar’s pledge of $50m for the initiative of Kuwait to create an Arab fund to support technology and digital economy reflects Qatar’s keenness to support the Arab world, as well as Arab joint action process. The Beirut Declaration, issued at the conclusion of the summit, expressed appreciation to the directives of H H the Amir and Kuwait Amir’s initiative to establish an investment fund with a capital of $200m, with Kuwait pledging $50m.
Qatar also plans to invest in Lebanese government bonds to support the country’s economy. The decision was made after a meeting between H H the Amir and President of the Lebanese Republic, Michel Aoun, during H H the Amir’s visit to the sisterly Lebanese Republic.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Qatar will purchase Lebanese government bonds worth $500m and added that the move comes in the wake of efforts to strengthen the Lebanese economy and support Lebanese people amid the challenges they face.
The summit called on Arab countries to support the Kuwait initiative to contribute to the strengthening of the Arab economy and create jobs for the Arab youth. The summit called on donor organisations and Arab funds to secure financing for the implementation of development projects to alleviate the suffering of refugees and ease the burden put on their host countries.
The summit called for the empowering of youth to participate actively in society and strengthening the role of youth organisations in achieving comprehensive development, which will positively impact youth, provide job opportunities and develop skills among young people, especially refugees and displaced persons, which is an investment in the future of the region and the world.
The declaration stressed on the importance of encouraging innovation in order to help the Arab world make humanitarian, societal, and economic gains. They also called on regulating the labour market and training workers in line with sustainable development goals.
It stressed on the importance of development initiatives in the fields of technology and digital economy, the need for Arab countries to remain abreast with the communications and information revolution, to develop a common Arab vision in digital economy in order to benefit from the potential of the digital economy and to support private initiatives in this respect.
Qatar believes in the importance of joint Arab action as the only way to achieve sustainable economic development. And Qatar’s support initiatives prove that the State is practising its diplomacy with transparency and clarity.
