BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Five-star al-Attiyah wins Morocco QCB Governor urges Islamic fi ntech focus rally published in QATAR since 1978 WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10967 October 10, 2018 Safar 1, 1440 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar set to In brief launch fi rst QATAR | Diplomacy ‘Siege was imposed under false pretexts’ free zone HE the Advisory Council Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud stressed that Qatar has been subjected to an unjust siege since June 5, 2017, which was imposed by the neighbouring in 2019 countries under false pretexts and through the use of cyber-crime and By Peter Alagos porting economic diversifi cation by cyber-hacking exploiting modern Business Reporter strengthening GDP and attracting for- cyber-information technology, eign investors to add to the economic aff irming that those who misuse diversifi cation process. cyber-technology must be held wo new free zones in the country He said Qatar is interested in certain accountable everywhere. He was His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met with IOC President Dr Thomas Bach in Buenos Aires yesterday. will be open to local and interna- sectors for its free zones, especially lo- speaking at the third meeting of HE the President of Qatar Olympic Committee, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, attended the meeting. Ttional investors by 2019, accord- gistics, because they are strategically heads of parliaments of European ing to HE the Minister of State Ahmed located near the country’s air and sea and Asian countries (Eurasia) bin Mohamed al-Sayed, who is also the ports. There will be sites to store gold, on economic co-operation, chairman of Qatar’s Free Zones Author- jewellery, and expensive antiques, as environment and sustainable ity. well as food storage and re-export of development in Eurasia, in Antalya, Amir re-elected as member of IOC The Umm Al Houl Free Zone, which food through the port or airport, al- Turkey. Page 8 is near Hamad Port, will be ready to re- Sayed continued. ceive investors by Q1 2019, al-Sayed told He added that the spare parts sec- QATAR | Contracts QNA a panel yesterday during the Interna- tor is also an important targeted area, Buenos Aires tional Product Exhibition and Confer- which will benefi t the local sector, in Ashghal deals worth ence, which concludes today. addition to the pharmaceutical indus- QR10bn in 5 months The second free zone, Ras Bu Fontas, try. The authority, al-Sayed said, plans The Public Works Authority is Highness the Amir Sheikh which is near Hamad International Air- to make Qatar a hub for pharmaceu- (Ashghal) has awarded tender Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has port, will facilitate cargo operations and ticals, even as he cited the presence of contracts worth QR3bn to local Hbeen re-elected as a member of The meeting dealt with the relations High Commissioner for Refugees. similar businesses. Ras Bu Fontas, the Qatar Airways, which is providing “fast contractors in the last two months the International Olympic Committee of co-operation between Qatar and the His Highness the Amir stressed minister said, will be launched next year and specialised” transport lines for the and there are plans to award more (IOC) during its session in Buenos Aires, IOC and means of enhancing and de- Qatar’s keenness to support refugees and will feature advanced technologies. industry. contracts worth QR7bn before the on the sidelines of the Youth Olympic veloping them. around the world at various levels in Al-Sayed also assured that there will Al-Sayed said the authority is also end of the year, Ashghal president Games. The Amir also participated in the In this regard, Dr Bach praised the terms of providing the necessary facil- be no competition between local and interested in gas and petroleum deriva- Dr Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi meetings of the 33rd session of the IOC friendly relations between the two ities to exercise in safe environments foreign investors, “but will be a start- tives, citing opportunities to engage in has said. Ashghal was able to on Monday, which dealt with a number of sides, and the great role and initia- for those forced to leave their homes ing point for communication between several industries like petrochemicals increase the number of Qatari topics on the agenda related to the devel- tives undertaken by Qatar in promot- due to crises, wars, famine, and other Qatar and the global market, which will and plastics inside the free zones. materials by 65% in one year of the opment of sports work and the Olympic ing the dissemination of the Olympic natural disasters. provide more opportunities for the local He said the Free Zones Authority is blockade, he added while speaking movement at the global level. movement worldwide, including the He also expressed thanks and ap- investor and the Qatari private sector.” engaged in talks with many organisa- at IPEC 2018. Page 4 His Highness the Amir met with support of Qatar represented by the preciation for the eff orts exerted by He said the Cabinet added some ar- tions in the state, including Qatar Pe- IOC President Dr Thomas Bach. HE Qatar Olympic Committee to the Ol- the Olympic Refuge Foundation in the eas to the Free Zones law, including troleum to encourage the Qatari private QATAR | Infrastructure the President of Qatar Olympic Com- ympic Refuge Foundation, which was establishment and rehabilitation of Msheireb, which is noted for its strategic sector or the foreign companies to in- mittee, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al- established in September last year in sports facilities for refugees in more location and advanced infrastructure. vest in this sector and to make the free Hamad Port accounts for Thani, attended the meeting. co-operation with the United Nations than 50 countries across the world. According to al-Sayed, the Free Zones zones an export hub in the future. 28% ME trade volume Authority is engaged in “early nego- Al-Sayed also said Qatar has set up Hamad Port has accounted for tiations” with some major international a development fund to entice small lo- 28% of the trade volume in the companies for potential joint ventures, cal or international companies to invest Middle East according to the some of which, will be operating in Qatar. in the free zone. He said the free zones statistics for 2017, HE the Minister Al-Sayed said economic zones aim to have a high regulatory environment and of Transport and Communications provide a level of economic security in a registration system devoid of bureauc- Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti told a Qatari-bought fuel enters Gaza to terms of free fl ow of goods to the state racy, and follows the best international panel discussion yesterday at the and the local market, in addition to sup- standards. Pages 4, 5 Business Page 3 International Product Exhibition and Conference. He cited this as an ease humanitarian crisis: Hamas evidence of the success of Qatar’s infrastructure. Page 5 AFP Hamas and Israel. Israeli offi cials how- A Palestinian source at the Kerem QATAR | Labour Gaza City ever refused comment on the delivery. Shalom crossing in southern Gaza — QP targets scaling up A spokesman for the UN Secretary- the only goods crossing between the ITUC hails Qatar’s General hailed Qatar’s $60mn dona- Gaza Strip and Israel — earlier put the care for workers atari-bought fuel arrived at the tion for the fuel, which is expected to number at six trucks and a far higher total output capability Qatar has become one of the Gaza Strip’s only power station be spent over several months. number of litres. leading countries in the Gulf Qafter entering through Israel “Additional fuel for the Gaza power AFP journalists saw at least one to promote workers’ interests yesterday in a bid to alleviate condi- plant remains the fastest and most truck arriving at the power station in atar Petroleum is developing and provide for their needs, tions in the Palestinian enclave, a Ha- immediate way to increase electricity Gaza City. its capabilities in many parts the International Trade Union mas spokesman and sources said. and help alleviate the humanitarian “The Qatari fuel to the Gaza Strip’s Qof the world with a target of Confederation secretary-general The delivery could help ease months and related public health needs on the power plant today is aimed at par- increasing total production capability Sharan Burrow has said. “Other of protests and clashes along the border ground,” Stephane Dujarric said at a tially improving electricity (supply) from 4.8 to 6.5mn barrels of oil equiv- Gulf states should follow suit,” she between Israel and Hamas-run Gaza, briefi ng in New York. in Gaza,” Hamas spokesman Hazem alent (mboe) a day in eight years, said urged at a press conference at the which has been under a crippling Israeli He said two trucks carrying 70,000 Qassem said. QP President and CEO Saad Sherida International Labour Organisation blockade for more than a decade. litres of fuel had entered, while deliv- For months Gaza residents have al-Kaabi. (ILO) off ice in Doha on Monday. UN offi cials and Egypt have in recent eries were set to increase to 15 trucks been receiving only four hours of “Qatar Petroleum is highly com- Page 7 weeks pursued indirect talks between daily in the coming days. mains electricity a day on average. petitive, very reliable, and is ready for the future,” al-Kaabi said in his key- note speech at the opening of the Oil & Money Conference in London yester- day.