Qatar Projects QR4.3 Bn Surplus Budget in 2019
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FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 RABI AL-AKHIR 7, 1440 VOL.12 NO. 4483 QR 2 FINE HIGH : 25°C LOW : 17°C Sports 12 Fajr: 4:48 am Dhuhr: 11:29 am Asr: 2:27 pm Maghrib: 4:46 pm Sanchez picks 27 players Isha: 6:16 pm for four friendlies AMIR APPROVES 2019 GENERAL BUDGET AMIR MEETS ARGENTINE FM Qatar projects QR4.3 bn surplus budget in 2019 Health, edu and infra New projects worth Expected revenues are sectors get huge boost QR48 billion based on an oil price will be awarded in 2019 assumption of QNA Major projects are $55/barrel allocated DOHA QR10 billion allocated for the 43.3% THE Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin of total expenditure Hamad al Thani on Thursday is- expansion of HIA sued Law No 23 of (2018) approv- QR12 billion ing the state’s general budget for the QR211 billion is allocated over 5 years to year 2019. is the expected revenue, develop new housing for The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani met Minister of Foreign Affairs The law is effective as of Janu- nationals and Worship of the Argentine Republic Jorge Faurie at the Amiri Diwan on ary 1, 2019 and shall be published in 20.5% up from 2018 Thursday. During the meeting, they reviewed relations between Qatar and Argen- the Official Gazette. tina in different fields and ways to develop them. (QNA) In a statement, the Ministry of Finance said the general budget for HEALTH SECTOR QR22.7 billion TRANSPORTATION AND 2019 projects a surplus of QR4.3 is allocated for the health sector COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR billion, the first budget surplus in (11% of the total expenditure) three years. z Expansions in Hamad Medical Corporation facilities, QR16.4 billion The 2019 budget is based on as- is allocated for the transport and communica- sumption of an average oil price of National Laboratories premises Qatar, Somalia sign tion sector (7.9% of total expenditure) $55 a barrel as compared to $45 a z Completion of 4 new health centres barrel in the 2018 budget. (Al Wajbah, Meither, Qatar University and Alwaab) z Most of the allocations will go to the The statement said the surplus z Commencing construction of 5 new Rail project, Doha Metro pacts to boost ties health centres (South of Wakrah, is a result of higher energy prices Expected expenditure z QR12bn allocated for Doha Metro in international markets along with Al Mashaf, Al Saad, Al Khor and Ein Khaled) is set at increasing non-oil revenues. QR206.7bn, The revenue is anticipated to up by 1.7% from in 2018 reach QR211 billion, up 20.5 per- figures cent as compared to the budgeted revenue of QR175.1 billion in 2018. EDUCATION SECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE The expenditure is set at QR206.7 PROJECTS billion, up 1.7 percent as compared QR19.2 billion to QR203.2 billion in 2018. is earmarked for the education sector QR33 billion Based on the directives from the allocated for infrastructure projects (9.3% of total expenditure) Amir, the 2019 budget is designed (16% of total expenditure) to achieve efficiency in current ex- penditure while maintaining the necessary allocations for the com- pletion of major approved projects that contribute to the sustainable ment of infrastructure and facili- boost economic growth in the coun- penditure. Expenditure allocated development targets of Qatar 2030 ties in free zones, special economic try, especially in non-oil sectors. to Chapter IV (Major Projects) de- Vision. These span economic, so- zones, and industrial and logistics The allocation for the health clined by 3.6 percent to QR89.6bn, cial, human and environmental de- zones. sector is estimated at QR22.7 bil- compared with QR92.9bn in 2018. velopment. The budget also focuses In 2019, new projects with a to- lion, representing 11 percent of the This decline is the result of the QNA da of understanding (MoUs) between on providing necessary funds for tal cost of QR48 billion are expected total expenditure. completion of some major infra- DOHA the governments of the two countries. the development of new housing to be awarded out of a portfolio of The education sector is allo- structure projects. They witnessed the signing of an areas for nationals, enhancing food committed projects worth QR421 cated QR19.2 billion in the budget, PRIME Minister and Minister of In- agreement of avoidance of double security projects, and the establish- billion. These new projects will representing 9.3 percent of total ex- See also page 9 Ô terior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser taxation and prevention of fiscal eva- bin Khalifa al Thani and Prime Minis- sion, an agreement on encouraging ter of Somalia Hassan Ali Khairi dis- and protecting mutual investments, cussed ways to develop and enhance agreement on maritime transport and Amir condoles bilateral relations in various fields, at an agreement on economic, trade and Tax on health-damaging goods next year the Amiri Diwan on Thursday. technical cooperation. with Erdogan They also reviewed the latest re- They also witnessed the signing of an gional and international developments MoU on cooperation in the field of ports, DOHA The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim QNA ventures remain at the same level, of 2019. of common concern. MoU on cooperation between the Dip- bin Hamad al Thani on Thursday DOHA which is at 10 percent flat rate on The law includes a 100 percent The PM and his Somali counter- lomatic Institute in the Qatar’s Foreign sent a cable to Turkish President profits. tax on tobacco and its products and part then witnessed the signing of a Ministry and the Diplomatic Institute in Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the QATAR would introduce a levy on The law stipulates that the sala- energy drinks, and a 50 percent tax number of agreements and memoran- the Somalia’s Foreign Ministry. PAGE 2 cable, the Amir expressed his “health-damaging goods” such as ries and wages of citizens and resi- on sugary drinks. condolences on the victims of sugary drinks and tobacco from the dents shall not be subject to any tax. A decision was also issued to Ankara-Konya train collision, wish- beginning of next year. However, a It also grants exemptions for equity establish the General Tax Author- ing the injured a speedy recovery. value-added tax (VAT) will not be shares listed on recognised stock ity (GTA). It has been established MBS responsible for Khashoggi killing: US Senate At least nine people were killed imposed in 2019 and its effects are exchange, profits of bank deposits as a separate entity, under the and nearly 50 injured when a being assessed. and companies working in the agri- supervision of the Ministry of Fi- WASHINGTON: Senators have voted to recommend that the US stop supporting the high speed train collided with a In a statement, the Ministry of cultural sector and fisheries. Marine nance, and will be responsible for Saudi-UAE-led war in Yemen, directly challenging both Saudi Arabia and President locomotive and crashed into a Finance announced issuance of a and aerial transportation are also the implementation of all tax laws. Donald Trump in the wake of writer Jamal Khashoggi’s slaying. Senators also ap- station platform and overpass in set of taxation laws, including in- exempted under the principal of The GTA’s mandate includes proved a non-binding resolution saying the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sal- an Ankara suburb on Thursday. come tax and selective tax law. reciprocity. the implementation of all tax laws man is responsible for Khashoggi’s murder. The bipartisan vote on Thursday comes Rescuers worked to free people According to Income Tax law, The Selective Tax law is de- and setting up all related bylaws, two months after the Khashoggi’s killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and after trapped under the mangled wreck- the income tax on foreign com- signed to impose taxes on certain procedures and instructions. Trump has equivocated over who is to blame. US intelligence officials have conclud- age at Marsandiz train station. panies working in Qatar or on the health-damaging goods and it will ed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman must have at least known of the stakes of foreign partners in joint be implemented by the beginning See also page 9 Ô plot, but Trump has repeatedly praised the kingdom. (AFP) PAGE 8 CRUISE SHIP MSC SPLENDIDA ‘Majority’ back 48-team 2022 World Cup: FIFA chief CALLS ON DOHA PORT IKOLI VICTOR Qatar since June 2017, Infantino DOHA said: “Is it feasible or not? Feasible Doha Port welcomed cruise ship MSC Splendida on its first trip during the in Qatar maybe not, in neighbour- ongoing 2018-19 cruise season. The ship was carrying a total of 3,442 FIFA President Gianni Infantino ing counties maybe it is an option. passengers and 1,307 crew members. has said a “majority” of football I am not naive not know or read the federations support increasing political situation.” the number of teams playing at “Sometimes in football, dreams the 2022 World Cup in Qatar can come true, and Qatar has been from 32 to 48. clear on this topic and that’s the Speaking at a press conference in more reason we should look into Doha on Thursday, Infantino said, it. If possible, then why not. If it is “We have spoken with the Qatari not, we would still have a fantastic authorities. We will see, we gathered World Cup of 32 teams.” the opinions of members of differ- Infantino reiterated that FIFA ent federations, so far the majority will decide in March whether the of them are in favour for 48 teams in FIFA president Gianni Infantino at a press conference in Doha on Thursday.