Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) held on Wednesday its general assembly meeting, which approved the estimated budget for the financial year 2021, among other things, via videoconferencing.

During the meeting chaired by HE Qatar Chamber Chairman HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, the general assembly approved QC's annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2020, the discharge of Board Members, the approval of the QC's fiscal report for 2020 through the auditor's report on the final accounts, and the statement of income and expenses for the said year.

At the outset of the meeting, HE Chairman reviewed the Board of Directors report on the activities of Qatar Chamber for the year 2020 and expressed his thanks and appreciation for HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's continuous support for the private sector, and His Highness' keenness that this sector plays its promising role for economic development.

Addressing the meeting, HE Sheikh Khalifa said that 2020 was a challenging year not only for Qatar but also the world's countries, and despite the repercussions of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which affected all the world's economies, the State of Qatar has successfully dealt with the crisis and managed to preserve the health of all citizens and residents, pointing to the QR 75 financial package directed by the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, assuring that it has helped the private sector and all economic sectors overcome the negative implications of the pandemic.

As for the role played by the Chamber during COVID-19, Sheikh Khalifa noted that the Chamber has continued to efficiently provide its services to the Qatari business community without interruption and also joined hands with the government efforts exerted to not only curb the outbreak of the COVID-19 but also maintain the economy, as well as it enabled the private sector to perform a positive role during the crisis.

The Chamber also has accelerated its digitalization and further developed its technological infrastructure with the aim to streamline services and transactions for its members and providing all possible means to accomplish their transactions online, he noted. 

HE Qatar Chamber Chairman HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani said that the Chamber adopted a number of important initiatives which contributed to encouraging the private sector to perform its role during the pandemic and combat its negative impacts.

In this context, he noted, it formed an emergency committee tasked with resolving obstacles faced by local companies due to the precautionary measures. It also launched the "Takatuf Initiative which focused on two aspects. The first includes the private sectors contribution to the State's efforts to confront the pandemic, and the second concerns motivating large companies to help and support small and medium-sized companies that have been greatly affected by the repercussions of the pandemic.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, the Chamber launched the Labour Re-employment Platform in the private sector, with the aim of helping companies obtain skilled workers from laid-off workers, in order to ensure the continuity of business and projects without disruption.

HE Sheikh Khalifa referred to the Law No. 12 of 2020 regulating the partnership between public and private sectors, assuring that it confirmed the States confidence in the private sector and the Wise Leaderships interest in enhancing the role played by the private sector as a genuine partner in the development march.

The Chamber played a key role in highlighting the idea of issuing a law regulating PPPs during a conference it organized in 2009, where the Chamber recommended the need for a legislation governing the partnership between the government and the private sector, he stressed.

He also noted that the law would help further increase the participation of private sector in the projects being implemented in the country, affirming that partnerships projects contribute to enhancing economic development and attracting more investment, especially that the private sector has become able to play a greater role in economic development, which is one of the key pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.

QC Chairman invited members to participate in the activities and events hosted by the Chamber, stressing that it welcomes all suggestions and ideas that might help in developing the private sector and achieve its interests for the advantage of the national economy.

(QNA)