BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 PSG lift third Al Kass title INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-10, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Commercial Bank has to create REGION 10 BUSINESS 1-6, 10-12 ‘suffi cient potential to 26,149.39 9,204.62 64.85 ARAB WORLD 10 CLASSIFIED 7-10 +72.50 -123.62 +0.35 INTERNATIONAL 11-21 SPORTS 1-8 grow’ in Qatar: CEO history +0.28% -1.33% +0.54% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 THURSDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10716 February 1, 2018 Jumada I 15, 1439 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals US ready to In brief work with QATAR | Offi cial Emir congratulates to Czech president Qatar to ‘deter His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables external threat’ of congratulations to President Milos Zeman of the Czech Republic on his re-election for a second term. (From left) HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani, HE the Minister of he US has expressed its readi- conversations continue, both the United Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Mohamed ness to work jointly with Qatar States and Qatar believe their continued QATAR | Energy bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, US Secretary of Defence James Mattis, HE the Deputy Prime Tto deter and confront any exter- mutual co-operation will benefi t the in- Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi nal threat to Qatar’s territorial integ- terests of both countries, as well as the QP wins fi ve exploration and HE the CEO of Qatar Investment Authority Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani in Washington, DC on Tuesday. rity that is inconsistent with the United security and stability of the Gulf region,” off shore blocks in Mexico Nations (UN) Charter, according to a the statement continued. Qatar Petroleum (QP) has won joint statement issued following the Qatar and the US discussed and wel- exploration rights in five off shore inaugural US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue. comed enhanced co-operation, partic- blocks in Mexico. The winning bids were While highlighting the strength of ularly, but not limited to the following announced yesterday by the National Qatar-US relations, the two sides dis- areas: Hydrocarbon Commission of Mexico cussed the Gulf crisis and expressed zPolitical co-operation: The two (CNH) at the conclusion of a public Qatar ‘highly attractive’ for the need for an immediate resolution sides expressed satisfaction at the re- bidding session in Mexico City, during that respected Qatar’s sovereignty, the cently strengthened and expanded which CNH also received the competing statement noted. bilateral relationship. This highlights bids. QP won the exploration rights for The two countries welcomed the their shared commitment to advance blocks 3, 4, 6, and 7 in the Perdido basin Strategic Dialogue, highlighting the global peace and prosperity. as part of a consortium comprising US investments: minister strength of their bilateral relationship The two sides discussed the Gulf cri- Shell (operator with a 60% interest) and the mutually benefi cial opportuni- sis and expressed the need for an imme- and QP (with a 40% interest). QP also atar has weathered the block- to invest $35bn in 2015-20 and an ad- ing on these achievements and that the ties for the peoples of both countries to diate resolution, which respects Qatar’s won the exploration rights for block ade and enhanced its economic ditional $10bn for infrastructure sector private sector in both countries is well deepen co-operation, the offi cial Qatar sovereignty. The two governments ex- 24 in the Campeche basin as part of a Qcompetitiveness, thus posi- in the US. positioned to tap a multitude of exist- News Agency (QNA) reported. pressed concern about the harmful se- consortium comprising Eni (operator tioning it as a “highly attractive” des- There were also representatives of ing investment opportunities. The statement said the two sides look curity, economic and human impacts of with a 65% interest) and QP (with a 35% tination for the US investments, HE the Ministries of Foreign Aff airs, Fi- As much as 16% of Qatar’s imports forward to making progress in the areas the crisis. Concern was also expressed interest). Page 4 Minister of Economy and Commerce nance, Economy and Commerce, came from the US in 2017 with the of co-operation when the Dialogue re- over peace and stability in the Gulf and Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Moham- Transport and Communications, Ad- trade balance registering a surplus of convenes in Qatar in 2019. “Both sides adherence to international law. QATAR | Health ed al-Thani said. ministrative Development and Labour $5bn in favour of the US, the commerce look forward to further enhancing bi- Qatar emphasised its appreciation The US, which is at present Doha’s and Social Aff airs. minister said, adding some 102 fully- lateral relations during the visit of His for the role played by the United States Private sector urged to sixth largest trading partner, has the Confi dent that the US would tap owned US entities and 505 Qatari-US Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin in the mediation of the dispute in sup- invest in medical fi elds potential to become Qatar’s top trading the opportunities off ered by Qatar to joint ventures are at present operating Hamad al-Thani to Washington later port of the eff orts of the Emir of Ku- Qatar’s Health Committee has urged the partner due to the umpteen opportuni- build on the historic bilateral relations, in Doha. As many as 40 US fi rms are li- this year,” it added. wait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber private sector to invest in the medical ties for investments, especially in the pri- Sheikh Ahmed said Doha has sought censed under the umbrella of the Qatar The US and Qatar underscored the al-Sabah. Also, Qatar and the US af- sector and work to develop it in line vate sector, he told a reception held by the to issue new laws and introduce key Financial Centre. strength of their ties and established fi rmed their backing for a strong Gulf with Qatar’s National Vision 2030. The US Chamber of Commerce for Qatar’s amendments to several existing legis- Qatar has not only made amend- a shared vision for the future of their Co-operation Council that is focused committee reviewed at its meeting delegation participating in the Qatari-US lation in order to attract and promote ments to its law on investment zones, strategic partnership. The two govern- on countering regional threats and en- yesterday the vision and the platform Strategic dialogue in Washington. local and foreign investments. which provides further incentives to ments took an important step to elevate suring a peaceful and prosperous fu- of its strategy, mechanisms and The session brought together HE Ali Highlighting that the Trade and investors seeking to set up businesses the bilateral relationship by signing a ture for all its peoples. course of action. The committee also Sherif al-Emadi, Minister of Finance; Investment Framework Agreement, in Qatar, but also drafting a new law memorandum of understanding (MoU) Qatar also stressed the role of the US reviewed the functions of the sectoral HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin signed in 2004, bolstered these ties; he that ensures incentives, including tax establishing an annual Strategic Dia- in the region and the signifi cant part it committees contained in Law No. 23 of Saud al-Thani, chief executive of Qatar said the US-Qatari strategic dialogue exemptions, for new fi rms to enhance logue, the statement noted. plays in countering threats of terrorism 2017 amending certain provisions of the Investment Authority, which pledged represents a key step towards build- foreign investments. To Page 4 The Strategic Dialogue was held in and violent extremism. The two gov- law establishing the Qatar Chamber of Washington, DC on January 30. US ernments discussed regional security Commerce and Industry. Secretary of State Rex W Tillerson and and stability, including joint eff orts to Secretary of Defence James N Mattis defeat ISIS, ongoing confl icts in Syria, SPACE | Astronomy co-chaired the opening session of the Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, as well as Strategic Dialogue jointly with HE the eff orts to resolve the Israeli-Palestini- Stargazers witness rare Woqod fuel stations accept card payment Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of an confl ict, QNA reported. ‘super blue blood Moon’ State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin The US acknowledged Qatar’s gen- Stargazers across large swaths of atar Fuel (Woqod) has announced al-Muhannadi said. “We are excited Mohamed al-Attiyah and HE the Dep- erous humanitarian role bilaterally and the globe — from the streets of Los that it will accept debit and credit to collaborate with QNB as our strate- uty Prime Minister and Foreign Minis- multilaterally through the work of vari- Angeles to the slopes of a smouldering Qcards for payments at its fuel sta- gic partnership will provide a broader ter Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman ous UN agencies, in supporting forcibly Philippine volcano — had the chance to tions from today as part of eff orts to pro- range of customers with industry- al-Thani. displaced populations and in assisting witness a rare “super blue blood Moon” vide seamless service to customers.