Doha: Qatar has succeeded in achieving a balanced economic growth as well as economic diversification and independence in line with its National Vision 2030 and the Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022, Minister of Commerce and Industry, H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari has said. 

Minister Al Kuwari was speaking during the 5th session of the Qatari-Kazakh Joint Higher Committee, which he co-chaired with Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy H E Raslan Dalenov in Nur Sultan on February 13-14. 

Speaking during the event, Minister H E Al Kuwari said Qatar has sought to accelerate the implementation of initiatives and measures aimed at cementing its position as a leading regional investment and business hub, noting that Qatar has worked on improving its business environment to attract foreign investors. 

In addition to opening its economy to global markets and building fruitful international partnerships, Minister Al Kuwari explained that Qatar is capitalising on its advanced infrastructure such as the Hamad International Airport, Hamad Port, free zones and logistical and industrial areas. 

Thanks to these efforts, Qatar has been ranked among the top 20 countries to undertake reforms to improve the ease of doing business for the year 2020, the Minister added. 

Speaking earlier during the opening of the session, Minister Al Kuwari highlighted the friendly relations, strong ties and bilateral cooperation between Qatar and Kazakhstan, urging increased efforts to establish a strategic partnership in the trade and investment fields. 

The Minister also called for increased cooperation on the governmental level to engage the Qatari and Kazakh business sectors in dialogue and to enable the private sector in both countries to enter into successful investment partnerships that will bolster bilateral relations. 

In his speech, Minister Al Kuwari reiterated the importance of following up on the recommendations issued by the Qatari-Kazakh Joint Higher Committee during its previous session in Doha, particularly when it comes to the activation of the agreement on the establishment of a joint businessmen council, which was signed in 2008 to bolster bilateral investments and trade. 

He also hailed the progress achieved in terms of the signing of new memoranda of cooperation and the activation of existing agreements including an agreement on the protection and promotion of mutual investments and a memorandum of understanding on air transport, which was ratified on November 7, 2019, to operate 7 flights between the cities of Doha and Nur Sultan and 7 additional flights between Doha and the city of Almaty. The MoU will pave the way for further collaboration in the touristic field, the Minister added. 

Minister Al Kuwari added that Qatar looks forward to contributing to the privatisation programme that Kazakhstan is currently undertaking and to channeling investments into sectors that will serve the development orientations of both countries. 

The fifth session of the Qatari-Kazakh Joint Higher Committee touched on the promotion of bilateral cooperation in various sectors of mutual interest to both countries. 
The committee also discussed issues related to strengthening cooperation between both countries in various fields, including the trade, investment, industry, agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and energy sectors. 

SOURCE: THEPENINSULA