Qatar Chamber, along with the rest of the world, witnessed an "exceptional year" in 2020 due to Covid-19, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani said during the virtual second general assembly meeting held on Wednesday.

While presiding over the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa reviewed the board of directors’ report and enumerated Qatar Chamber’s achievements in 2020 amid the challenges of Covid-19, which created huge challenges for the global community.

Sheikh Khalifa said Qatar “successfully dealt with the crisis” and managed to preserve the health of all citizens and residents, citing the QR75 stimulus package directed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. He said this helped the private sector and the economy overcome the impact of the pandemic.

He said the chamber continued to “efficiently provide services” to the Qatari business community “without interruption,” and also partnered with government efforts to not only curb the outbreak of the Covid-19 but also maintain the economy. It also enabled the private sector to perform “a positive role” during the health crisis.

The chamber also has accelerated its digitalisation and further developed its technological infrastructure with the aim to streamline services and transactions for its members and providing all possible means to accomplish their transactions online, he noted.

Sheikh Khalifa said the chamber adopted a number of important initiatives that helped the private sector perform its role during the pandemic and combat its impact. He said the chamber formed an emergency committee tasked with resolving obstacles faced by local companies due to precautionary measures.

It also launched the ‘Takatuf Initiative’, which focused on the private sector’s contribution to the state’s efforts to confront the pandemic, and by motivating large companies to help and support small and medium-sized companies that have been greatly affected by the pandemic.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), the chamber launched the ‘Labour Re-employment Platform’ in the private sector to ensure the continuity of business and projects without disruption.

Sheikh Khalifa said the chamber held more than 100 in-person or virtual events in 2020, including conferences, forums, meetings, and exhibitions. It also hosted meetings with officials of state authorities to review private sector-related matters.

He also said Law No (12) of 2020 regulating the partnership between public and private sectors confirms the state’s confidence in the private sector and the Wise Leadership’s interest in enhancing the role played by the private sector as a genuine partner in the development march.

The chamber played a key role in highlighting the idea of issuing a law regulating PPPs during a conference it organised in 2009, where the chamber recommended the need for a legislation governing the partnership between the government and the private sector, Sheikh Khalifa stressed.

He said the law would help further increase the participation of private sector in the projects being implemented in the country, affirming that partnerships projects contribute to enhancing economic development and attracting more investment, especially that the private sector is able to play a greater role in economic development – a key pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Sheikh Khalifa invited members to participate in the activities and events hosted by the chamber, stressing that it welcomes all suggestions and ideas that would help in developing the private sector and achieve its interests for the advantage of the national economy.

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