Qatari
Businessmen Association (QBA) organized a special workshop on “The
Future of Services in Qatar Following the Order of WTO and FTA” under
the auspices of and inaugurated by HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed bin
Jassim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, on May 16, 2005.
The main topics of the
workshop were the fundamentals of WTO and FTAs, impacts of trade
agreements on the local markets, and the underpinning
opportunities and challenges for the local private sector.
The opening speech was given
by HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Thani, followed by a speech
for Sheikh Faisal bin Qasim Al Thani, Chairman of QBA. Other
panelists included were Mr. Ahmed Ahen, Director of Economic and
Commercial Organizations Department at the Ministry of Economy
and Commerce, Mr. B. K. Zutshi, Former Indian Ambassador to
GATT, Mr. Ram Chandran, Partner of KPMG, and Dr. Gamal Zarrouk,
Director of the Economic Division at the Arab Monetary Fund.
In his Keynote address, B K
Zutshi said that no country could afford to remain alone at a
time when the world is fast turning into a global village.
Speaking on the growing role of the service sector
in various economies, Zutshi
said countries like Qatar, which are facing challenges in this
context, could join multi-lateral trade agreement to benefit in
the long run
"Studies and experiences have
showed that each partner in such agreement has reaped dividends
over the years", said the Indian analyst, citing examples.
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Highlighting the increasing role
of free Trade Agreement (FTA), Zutshi argued that such treaties
provide developing nations market access to those economies
where they could otherwise find it difficult to operate.
It also substantially improves
the quantum of goods produced in one country as such treaties
facilitate the easy movement of goods to foreign markets,” he
said.
The foreign markets elsewhere on
account of trade agreements, it is imperative to improve the
quality of goods produced in less development economy.
“Cost-effectiveness and
efficiency in services are two other positive results of any
multilateral trade agreement” he added.
Zutshi noted that wherever the
share of the services sector is substantial, usually over 70%,
the economy is then perceived to be on a strong wicket..
Decisions do not always go in
favor of stronger nations, Zutshi said, pointing out that the
United States has lost more than 50% of its disputes, the latest
one against Antigua & Barbados, a tiny Caribbean Island.
Referring in particular to Qatar,
the Indian official said it was time the country fully honored
the commitments it had made to the body in 2001, when Doha
hosted the WTO conference, that later came to be known as the
Doha Round.
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Under the Patronage of
HE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Hamad Bin
Khalifa Al ThanI
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In
its efforts to boost the skills and proficiency of the local
private sector, the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) held a
session on "Modern Management Tools and Trends" on May 11, 2005
at the Four Seasons Hotel. The seminar is the second among a
three-seminars program aiming at Upgrading Local Managerial and
Technical Skills, for which the first seminar was held on
February 16th.
Sheikh Abdullah Ahmed Al Thani
started the seminar with a welcome speech and emphasized that
the vision of QBA was derived from the strategic vision of HH
the Emir for developing the role of the private sector.He
mentioned that the same vision of HH that resulted in
establishing Qatar Foundation (QF) in 1995 to pave the way for
intellectual advancement; this vision resulted also in founding
QBA in 2002 to act as catalyst to upgrade and develop the role
of the private sector in the local economic growth.
Each of Dr. Geoff Kelly, Dr. W.
Michael Kemp & Dr. Marla Haims gave a brief presentation on how
Qatar Foundation provides extensive training on developing
management capabilities for the local private sector, & the
institutions of QF are keen to have more cooperation with QBA
and leaders of private sector in this concern. They also
gave a presentation on the
facilities available in QF to support intuitive learning and
develop managerial skills.
Following that Jean-Marie Péan
gave a presentation on the findings of the first seminar and a
summary of the results of survey sent to key businessmen earlier
about their usage of management tools and trends. The
presentation also included an introduction for the topics of
discussion to take place in the break-out session.
During the break-out
participants were divided into two groups discussing and
debating on their usage of modern management tools and trends
and the most appropriate trends for Qatari companies. All
participants agreed on the need for better human development
approaches and the importance of investing in their human
capital. They also agreed on the need of having strategic
planning units to assist their businesses growth.
A release issued by QBA
emphasized that HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani
has stressed the role of the private sector in speeding up
national development. The Emir in his address at the opening
session of the Consultative Council in 2003 had said: "We have
chosen the path of comprehensive development as our road to
advancing our country. We seek the diversification of the
sources of our national income by means of creating other
substantive sources in the development of which the private
sector will play a key role". |
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Special Dinner for
the Lord Mayor of City of London |
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Qatari
Businessmen Association (QBA) has organized a special
dinner for HE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Ahmed Bin Jassim Al
Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, and the Rt.
Hon. the Lord Mayor Alderman Michael Savory at the
Diplomatic Club on Tuesday, May 3, 2005. The dinner was
attended by HE Mr. Simon Collis, British Ambassador to
Qatar, and a number of government executives and key
business persons from both countries. The event started
with an introduction by Mr. Bassam R. Massouh, QBA
General Manager, followed by a welcome speech by Mr.
Issa Abdul Salam Abu Issa, QBA’s Secretary General, and
a short speech given by the Lord Mayor, in which he
expressed his appreciation to the Qatari outstanding
economic development lead by HH the Emir and thanked QBA
for its hospitality and class organization. The event
also witnessed a complementary souvenir presented by QBA
members to the Lord Mayor to commemorate his visit to
Qatar.
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