Joint Workshop between the Ministry of Business & Trade and the World Bank

January 18, 2012

 
Within the framework of the efforts of the Ministry of Business and Trade for the development of a competitive business environment in line with the Qatar’s National Vision 2030, the Ministry of Business and Trade held a workshop in Doha on 12/01/2012 to review the results of the cooperation program implemented by the Ministry in cooperation with the World Bank.
The workshop was opened by HE Mr. Majid Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Mahmoud, Assistant Undersecretary for Business, under the title of “Development of the Business Environment, Encouragement of the Initiative and Development of the Competitiveness in the State of Qatar”.
The workshop aimed to review the importance of this program to the State of Qatar in general, and to the Ministry of Business and Trade in particular, in terms of the development of the legislative and institutional environment for business, which constitutes the most important component for any investment activity, whether it was commercial, industrial, agricultural, or service, thing that will lead to encourage both local and foreign investments.
It was agreed between the Ministry of Business and Trade, represented by the Business Development Department at the beginning of the year 2010, and the World Bank, to implement a joint program under the name of “Development of the Business Environment, Encouragement of the Initiative and Development of the Competitiveness in the State of Qatar”.
This program consists of three main activities that are:
1 – Evaluation of the commercial performance of the State of Qatar and its level of competitiveness.
2 – Development of the means of maximizing the Value Added in the Qatari economy.
3 – Evaluation of the importance of the services’ trade in the Qatari economy.

The joint study between the World Bank and the Ministry of Business and Trade highlighted the importance of implementing a number of programs covering the following fields:
1. Encouraging the Qataris to participate in the economic activity and business practices through facilitating the business practice procedures.
2. Improving the international competitiveness and the capabilities of the various economic sectors, through the development of legislation and institutions, according to the international best practices.
3. Developing specific programs that aim to attract foreign capitals to the State of Qatar, and assisting in the transfer of technology.
4. Emphasizing on the importance of development through the development of the human capacities and the assurance of advanced educational and training programs that aim to identify local qualified talents.
5. Giving greater attention to the Small and Medium Enterprises sector in general, with a focus on the development of activities, level of innovation and invention, as well as the development of high-technology.
6. Developing the export capacity of the State of Qatar through the development of new products and diversifying the exports of the country.

HE Mr. Majid Al-Mahmoud stated that the Ministry of Business and Trade is looking forward to serious efforts from the various government agencies and institutions, as well as the business community to activate the initiatives proposed during the workshop.
It can be said that this workshop represented a valuable opportunity to cooperate with the business community to amend the recommendations and reach applicable and realistic initiatives.