Progress (E) 2015 -2016
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
2015-2016 HH THE EMIR SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL THANI HH THE FATHER EMIR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI Published by Oryx Publishing & Advertising Co WLL P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44550983, 44667584, 44671173, Fax: (+974) 44550982 Email: [email protected] Website: www.oryxpublishing.com A PRESENTATION FOREWORD THERE COME BUT A FEW EPISODES IN THE HISTORY OF A NATION THAT SHAPE AND DEFINE IT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME; A MOMENT THAT BRINGS ITS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND BINDS THEM IN THE PURSUIT OF A COMMON DESTINY. FOR QATAR, THAT TIME HAS COME. It would seem that until now Qatar has existed in a blessed bubble – inside it time went faster and we were able to achieve concentrated progress within a few short decades where it normally take many centuries. But today the strain on the bubble is considerable. The country can no longer remain insulated from outside forces – plummeting oil prices, new conflicts and the fast-spreading plague of violent extremism. It’s a tumultuous welcome into the real world. But going by how Qatar’s leadership is reacting to these events, it is clear that they view it as an opportunity. The low oil price is a chance to re-examine our economic policies, a fresh impetus towards our commitment to diversification and a ready excuse to implement some painful, but necessary, changes. The growing unrest in the region is a chance for Qatar to step up and walk the talk, to demonstrate its dedication to peace beyond petty geopolitics and be a genuine force for good. Which is why, several decades from now, current events will come to be seen as seminal in the making of the new Qatar. Qatar has weathered the past year better than anyone expected. There were setbacks and celebrations. In the same year that our nascent experiment with social medicine came to a screeching halt, Qatar successfully performed the first stem cell transplant to treat cancer. While allegations of corruption and human rights abuses continue unabated, residents and citizens came together to cheer the national host team as they powered through the men’s handball championships. While we prepare to post the first budget deficit in several years, we also launched our first international tourism campaign. Subsidies are being cut and the fat is being trimmed but there is a collective solidarity that is inspiring and admirable. Some legacy projects have been shelved or put on hold but the leadership has not lost sight of what is important and, despite dramatic changes in the economic climate, remains loyal to the Qatar National Vision 2030. Sacrifices have been demanded, and made, for the sake of the greater good. In the face of whatever fate throws at us, Qatar stoically marches forward. CONTENTS ECONOMY 11 ENVIRONMENT 67 QATAR AND THE WORLD 75 ROBUST BUT CAUTIOUS GROWTH TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE A BALANCING ACT Despite the challenging environment caused by Sustainable development has always been Notwithstanding opposition from some of the regional the fall-out from low oil prices for many oil-centric accorded utmost priority by the government powers, Qatar continued to pursue its activist foreign economies in the Middle Eastern region throughout and included in the Qatar National Development policy on various issues in the Middle East, such as the year, Qatar continued its economic growth for Strategy to balance economic growth and social the Iran nuclear deal and crises in Yemen, Palestine most of 2015 but the year-end turned out to be development while preventing degradation of and Syria, by committing itself to extend support critical for the tiny Gulf state. the environment for a better future. to people’s movements and offering humanitarian assistance to those in need across the world. LIMITED GAINS Political instability in the region and economic crises elsewhere made prospective investors and listed INFRASTRUCTURE 43 companies on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) less enthusiastic during 2015. Still, all hopes were not lost as the government-initiated technical reforms became productive, albeit in a limited manner, during the year. THE LNG DYNAMICS Discussions are taking place about the future of Qatar’s LNG industry due to the advent of U.S. shale gas in world gas markets and also to investments of billions of dollars by countries like Australia, Papua New Guinea, Nigeria and Indonesia either to upgrade their LNG production facilities or launch new LNG projects in the next five to seven years. ON THE THRESHOLD OF ON THE FAST TRACK The Qatar Rail project, a sustainable HOME-GROWN LUXURY SWEEPING CHANGE transportation system for the country, is In the decade since its establishment, Qatar Financial United International Company prides itself on chugging ahead. Centre has already emerged as one of the best and groundbreaking innovations and the supply fastest-growing business and financial centres in of top-class building materials and finished the world, winning several accolades such as the PAVING THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE products to its privileged list of clientele. «Best Financial Centre» award in the Middle East Tasked with implementing over QR40 billion from Global Investor magazine, as well as being worth of projects for highways, including SKY-HIGH AMBITIONS the highest-ranked financial centre in the GCC on 1,000 km of new or upgraded roads, 240 major From a humble and modest beginning, Qatar the Global Financial Centres Index (March 2014). interchanges and 360 bridges, and more Airways, the country’s national carrier, has But the prospects for 2016 look even more enticing programmes like construction of public utilities metamorphosed into one of the best airlines with legislation forthcoming that will see sweeping including schools, pedestrian bridges and and become a force to be reckoned within reforms in the Centre. hospitals, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) global aviation in less than two decades. had much to account for during 2015. CONTENTS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 85 ICT & TELECOMMUNICATION 105 TOURISM AND CULTURE 129 LAW OF THE LAND THE E-COMM WAKE-UP CALL A FLOURISHING ART SCENE HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al The serendipitous coming together of several Qatar Museums had a busy year with several Thani issued Law No. 21 of 2015 regulating national and private initiatives might mark this year new projects coming online. Doha played host the entry and exit of expatriates and their as a turning point in the way the country transacts to an exhibition by Luc Tuyman and the artist’s residency, thus replacing the previous online. retrospective was just one of the highlights of the Law No. 4 of 2009. artistically and culturally rich year. THE LAST WORD IN TELECOM CASTING A WIDE SAFETY BLANKET Since its inception, the Communications Regulatory TAKING QATAR TO THE WORLD The health sector in the past year has seen Authority has been ensuring a competitive Qatar Tourism Authority won the award for “Best both vigorous activity and tumultuous jolts. communications sector and protection of consumer Arab Government Tourism Authority” in 2015 from While medical research and cutting-edge rights in Qatar. the Arab Centre for Tourism Media for its contribution treatments are becoming the norm, the to the development of the Arab tourism landscape, country’s nascent experiment with social WHERE DATA IS AT HOME a testament to all the work being done by the entity medicine also came to an abrupt halt. As MEEZA’s Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Al Kuwari to promote tourism in Qatar and give the country its we present the 2015 highlights in the health helps us understand how the company is working own distinct identity. sector, we go into a new year with renewed on becoming the backbone of Qatar’s IT services pride and heightened caution. ecosystem. A NATION CELEBRATES! Glimpses of Qatar National Day celebrations from across the city ECONOMY “WE WILL NOT TOLERATE FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CORRUPTION OR ABUSE OF PUBLIC POSITIONS FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES, OR ABANDONING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR PERSONAL INTEREST.” HH SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL THANI THE EMIR STATE OF QATAR PROGRESS 2015-2016 ECONOMY ROBUST BUT CAUTIOUS GROWTH DESPITE THE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT, CAUSED BY THE FALL-OUT FROM LOW OIL PRICES FOR MANY OIL-CENTRIC ECONOMIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, QATAR CONTINUED ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR MOST OF 2015, BUT THE YEAR-END TURNED OUT TO BE CRITICAL FOR OUR TINY GULF STATE. ith the Organisation of Petroleum addresses and urged an end to wasteful government spend- Exporting Countries (OPEC) failing to reach ing, corruption and bureaucracy that inhibit entrepreneur- an understanding to cut oil production ship, according to QNA. “We will not tolerate financial and at its meeting in Vienna on December 4, administrative corruption or abuse of public positions for oil prices continued to slide and reached private purposes, or abandoning professional standards for W$36 per barrel on the last day of the year. When the US-led personal interest,” he said. sanctions against Iran were finally lifted on January 16, 2016, The Emir also suggested that plummeting oil prices could the price went below $30 per barrel, sending the GCC equity actually be a blessing in disguise, as the wealth brought in markets into a tizzy. from natural gas and oil has caused many to become de- Sensing these developments, The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim pendent on the state “to provide for everything, which re- bin Hamad Al Thani said that tumbling oil prices should not duces the motivation of individuals to take initiatives and send Qatar’s citizens into a panic, but instead motivated be progressive.” them to reject “self-delusion” and find a way to help secure He urged the youth to pursue more diverse career paths the nation’s future.