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ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Monday 11 February 2013 1 Rabial II 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5607 Price: QR2 Al Jazeera National Sport Finance inks Day mascots $95m facility named Business | 17 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 State plans two Heir Apparent meets French Defence Minister mega firms for investment IPOs likely to be launched DOHA: With more than $150bn prominent stock and financial expected to be spent on infra- analyst. structure development in the Qatar News Agency (QNA) country over the next 10 years, reported yesterday that the Emir, the government is all set to H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa launch a publicly-traded mega Al Thani, chaired a meeting of the infrastructure investment com- Supreme Council for Economic pany to ensure that Qatari peo- Affairs and Investment where the ple and businesses are directly above decisions were made. involved in the development According to Al Kahloot, process and benefit from it the proposed companies would financially as well. ensure a gush of liquidity Another similar initiative is into the local stock market. being launched whereby citi- “The market is currently hav- zens and private companies will ing liquidity-related woes.” The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The become direct stakeholders in the Presently, it is the Qatari Diar Minister handed to the Heir Apparent a written message for the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani from French President Francois Hollande wealth that gas-rich Qatar regu- which is making investments pertaining to bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern. larly invests abroad for strategic in infrastructure, both locally long-term gains. and overseas, he said talking of The state yesterday announced the Infrastructure Investment the above two initiatives, namely, Company. The infrastructure Infrastructure Investment company might do mega devel- Company and Doha Global opment projects like schools, Investment Company, and said the hospitals, roads and sewage, Al Illegal visa trade being monitored two mega companies will be listed Kahloot added. on Qatar Exchange. Prominent businessman, Although no further details Ahmed Al Khalaf, while lauding DOHA: The agency responsible The objective of the Foundation offices in the court premises The government is quite flex- were given, businessmen and ana- the announcement, said there is for fighting human trafficking behind setting up branch offices for help. “We then coordinate ible in this regard and actively lysts believe the capital of the two huge wealth in Qatar but there is says it is monitoring at least 60 at the courts is to know such with the Ministry of Labor and cooperates in such cases. Some mega entities would be in billions a flight of capital since there is a cases that have been filed in the cases and interact with the vic- the Ministry of Interior to find a of the victims prefer to return of riyals and at least 30 percent lack of investment avenues here. courts against companies that tims of the thriving visa trade and solution to a victim’s woes,” said a home while others are helped to of the shares could be open for The two companies would trade in work visas. provide them legal assistance in senior Foundation official, Ashraf find sponsors and jobs. subscription to the Qatari people make sure that large parts of The visas are genuine but the fighting the court cases. Mahfooz. The challenge is to make sure and businesses via initial public the Qatari capital that is parked companies that have sold the A vast majority of the hapless Those workers who don’t have that the stay and work of the offerings (IPOs). abroad, would come back, said visas don’t have jobs and accom- victims are low-income workers accommodation are helped by victims are legal in the coun- “The proposed firms might Al Khalaf. modation for their victims, many and it has been found that invari- the Foundation. “We have, thus, try, said the official. He said the be like when the state launched Details are not available, but it of whom have gone to court ably in each case they have been been able to earn the trust of the Foundation had set up the branch Industries Qatar (IQ) early last is understood that the two com- demanding justice. cheated by people from their own cheated workers and we are glad offices at the courts last year. decade by clubbing four state- panies would make investments The Qatar Foundation for nationality. that we are helping them.” He added that the companies owned companies together and locally as well as overseas, he said. Combating Human Trafficking has A senior Foundation offi- The victims should not be left and individuals responsible for putting them under this holding “People are happy as the ordinary set up offices at the Preliminary cial said that when the vic- without sponsors, or they might visa trade and for cheating hap- company and launching a mega Qatari investor would benefit Court, as also at the Labour Court, tims realize after landing here be led to seek revenge, posing a less workers are being taken IPO to ensure that citizens had a immensely from the IPOs.” to keep a close track on the cases that they have been cheated grave danger to social stability to task. “They are being made direct stake in big state-held busi- THE PENINSULA that are filed by the victims of the they either go to court or and security in the country, the accountable,” Mahfooz said. nesses,” said Yusuf Al Kahloot, a Continued on page 4 illegal visa trade. approach the Foundation’s official added. THE PENINSULA Bahrain, opposition hold Syria rebels in north ready for dialogue first reconciliation talks AMMAN: Syrian National Coalition leader Moaz Alkhatib MANAMA: Bahrain’s govern- has commanded nearly half the said yesterday that he was will- ment and opposition held rec- electorate in past parliamen- ing to hold talks with Bashar Al onciliation talks yesterday for tary votes but the government Assad’s representatives in rebel- the first time since July 2011 to has refused to budge on opposi- held areas in northern Syria. The try to end two years of political tion demands to give the elected talks’ objective would be to find deadlock in the kingdom. chamber of parliament the power a way for Assad to leave power While opposition members to form cabinets. with the “minimum of bloodshed have expressed very cautious opti- Justice Minister Sheikh Khaled and destruction,” Alkhatib said mism that the talks represent a bin Ali Al Khalifa said that the in a statement published on his meaningful step forward, they session had been a positive start. Facebook page. See also page 9 have also voiced concerns that the The opposition walked away from agenda remains unclear. reconciliation talks in July 2011, 17 jailed activists on Negotiators for the six opposition saying they were not carried out parties said as they were leaving fairly. Yesterday’s dialogue session hunger strike in Oman yesterday’s session that they would included the justice minister, the The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud witnessing continue the dialogue, at least until education minister and the works MUSCAT: Seventeen jailed the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the Sudan government and the Justice and Equality Movement the next meeting on Wednesday, minister. Omani cyber activists have (JEM) in Doha yesterday. but that they would meet today to Of the 24 other participants, begun a hunger strike in protest discuss the way forward. eight are from the opposition, against delays in their appeals. The sides have still to agree on eight from pro-government par- The activists in Samayl central Sudan govt, JEM sign truce deal the agenda and schedule, although ties and eight from Bahrain’s prison launched a hunger strike they have decided to limit the national assembly, made up of the on Friday “to protest against scope of discussions to resolving appointed Shura Council and an what they claimed to be a delay DOHA: The Sudan government agreed upon by the two parties present at the signing ceremony. political differences, and to meet elected chamber. in reviewing their appeal by the and the Justice and Equality on January 24, 2013. The two parties agreed to twice a week while talks continue. “The issue in this country is Supreme Court,” Times of Oman Movement (JEM) of Sudan Dr Amin Hassan Omer, immediately commence nego- Opposition negotiator Abdulnabi between the government and quoted their lawyer Yaqoob Al signed a ceasefire agreement Minister of State in the tiations on the remaining files Salman, from the Democratic the opposition. They are the real Harthi as saying. here yesterday. The ceasefire Presidency and Head of the included the agenda with a view Progressive Tribune group, said stakeholders. But there are lots came into force as of 23:59 hours Darfur Follow-up Office, who to achieving a comprehensive after the session: “So far so good, of others who will sit around the Argo wins BAFTA Sudan local time yesterday. is heading a delegation of the and final settlement of the con- and we will continue for the next table,” said Jasim Husain, a former The agreement comes as Sudanese government and flict in Darfur. session, but there is no guarantee Wefaq member of parliament. award for best film part of the ongoing peace talks Bashar Ahmed, JEM President Ahmed bin Abdullah Al that we will continue forever.” The opposition has said that its LONDON: Ben Affleck’s Argo between the two parties on the signed the agreement.