The Qatari Businessmen Association hosted a lunch in honour of Roberto Azevêdo, director general of the World Trade Organisation, who was on a brief visit to Doha.
The event was attended by HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, QBA chairman; Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani; Sherida al-Kaabi; Khaled al-Mannai; Salah al-Jaidah; Ibrahim al-Asmakh; Maqbool Khalfan; Nabil Abu Issa; Adnan Sobhi Ibrahim (on behalf of Ali Abdul Reda Mashaadi) and Sarah Abdullah, QBA deputy general manager.
Sheikh Faisal welcomed Azevêdo and highlighted the significance of the WTO in ensuring smooth and convenient global trade flows.
Azevedo thanked QBA members for hosting the lunch on his behalf.
He stressed the importance of diversifying economies, which are reliant on oil and gas including Qatar. This Azevedo said, is significant in the context of falling oil prices.
He also discussed modem economic trends and the development of the global market and expressed his admiration for the development he witnessed in Qatar over the last ten years. The Qatar National Vision constitutes a strong foundation for the long-term development of the country’s economy and distinguishes it from other similar economies in the region, Azevedo said.
He emphasised the possibility of making Qatar a financial hub in the region by establishing a suitable legislative structure and facilitating the administrative and banking procedures. He also highlighted the importance of developing the technology sector as a major source of economic growth as well as the role of private sector in national economic development.
The WTO is hosting a meeting on the private sector in Switzerland in May.