Chamber helped businesses during pandemic, says Qatar Chamber’s Chairman
03-03-2021
The year 2020 was an exceptional year not only for the State of Qatar but also for all world countries due to the repercussions of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which has cast shadows on all world economies, Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani said during the Chamber’s second general assembly meeting held by video conference on Wednesday.
The virtual meeting was headed by Sheikh Khalifa and attended by many Board Members, businessmen and QC members.
The meeting’s agenda included the approval of the Qatar Chamber’s annual report for the year ending December 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.
It also touched on the approval of the estimated budget for the financial year 2021 and appointment of a new auditor and determining the fees.
During the meeting, QC Chairman HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani reviewed the Board of Director’s report on the activities of Qatar Chamber for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Addressing the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa said 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.
Elaborating the initiatives adopted by the Chamber in 2020, Sheikh Khalifa 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.
QC Chairman also pointed out that the Chamber held more than 100 events in 2020, whether at the Chambers headquarters or through visual communication technology, including conferences, forums, meetings and exhibitions, indicating that it also hosted meetings with officials of concerned authorities in the state to review matters related to the private sector.
Sheikh Khalifa referred to the Law No (12) of 2020 regulating the partnership between public and private sectors, assuring that it confirmed the State’s confidence in the private sector and the Wise Leadership’s 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 organised 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.
