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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs: Qatar is Ready to Host Special World Cup

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said, "Qatar is well prepared to demonstrate for the world that we can host such an event (2022 World Cup) and have it hopefully in-person and this is our plan from the beginning," adding that the Qatar World Cup will be a great opportunity for the world as the first happy event that will take place after the novel coronavirus pandemic and isolation. Speaking at the 2021 Raisina Dialogue, HE the Foreign Minister underlined that Qatar, from the beginning, wanted to make sure, even with the continuation of the pandemic, to know how to host a successful World Cup with a physical presence so that people could attend and enjoy the event. "We have been negotiating and talking to the vaccination providers on how we can make sure that everyone attending the World Cup is vaccinated," he added. "Right now there are programs under development to provide vaccination to all the attendees of the World Cup. We will be able, hopefully, to host a COVID-free event. We also hope that globally the pandemic will start to go down and disappear. "I think one of the important elements that Qatar has made is its commitment to the world, for example, Hamad International Airport remained open to travelers who want to transit. Qatar Airways participated very actively in the repatriation of citizens from different countries, and we also provided our support, especially in the first days when we had those issues in providing ventilators, masks, etc, and there was a shortage of these materials in the market," he said. HE the Foreign Minister noted that the State of Qatars support extended to nearly 50 countries, in addition to its active participation in the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) initiative, adding: "We tried to address it in a 360-view so addressing the global issue and responding as a responsible member in the international community, being responsible for our own community, by making sure that our health care system is resilient, and our economy can stand in the face of this crisis." HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the State of Qatar has made an effort to ensure the minimum negative impact from this pandemic, adding, that the first priority in making sure that its health care system is resilient, so when the pandemic started last year, Qatar has put develop plans to ensure providing the maximum care by health care teams to the people. "Qatar has the minimum fatality rate in the world, that is due to making sure that we are not overloading our health care system and always have a room and enough spaces to hospitalize people and also moving forward by testing in advance and taking random samples from different communities," he explained. HE the Foreign Minister pointed out that the state provided stimulus packages like last year, starting with a package of USD20 billion for soft loans, and some industry loans, energy fees, and so on was ceded to companies, adding that the state reviews these packages every six months, to provide such a package when needed.

The Cabinet Takes Several Decisions to Support and Provide Financial and Econmic Incentives to the Private Sector to Ease the Economic Consequences of the Pandamic

Doha, April 14 (QNA) -, the Cabinet adopted additional support packages for the sectors affected by the closures resulting from the precautionary measures to deal with the spread of COVID-19, as follows: - Exemption from electricity and water fees for closed sectors until the end of September 2021. - Extension of the National Guarantees Program at Qatar Development Bank until the end of September 2021. - Extension of the period of the exemption from interest for an additional year for the National Guarantees Program to become two years without interest, in addition to two years of payment with interest that does not exceed the Qatar Central Bank rate + 2%. - Raising the limits of funding salaries and wages for closed sectors to QR15 million for a single identity card, while retaining the rest of the relevant terms and conditions. - Continued support by Qatar Central Bank to the liquidity of local banks as needed.Then, the Cabinet listened to the explanation provided by HE Minister of Public Health on the latest developments to limit the spread of Coronavirus. The Cabinet expressed satisfaction over the progress of the vaccination against the COVID-19 in the State of Qatar, as 1,168,087 doses of the vaccine have been administered since the start of the national vaccination program, and the percentage of people who received the first dose of vaccination reached 27% of the total number of population and the percentage of people who received the two doses is 15% of the total population, thus the State of Qatar ranked ninth in the world in the proportion of people who received vaccination. The Cabinet praised this achievement and the plans and programs put in place to vaccinate the entire population in the country. (MORE) The Cabinet then considered the topics listed on its agenda. The Cabinet took the necessary measures to issue a draft law on mortgaging movable funds, after the Council of Ministers reviewed the recommendation of the Shura Council on the draft law. The draft law aims to enable companies and individuals to obtain bank loans with the guarantee of mortgaged movables, and contribute to reducing the cost of loans by creating a guarantee for banks to reduce the risk of defaulting payments, thus supporting small and medium enterprises and their contribution to the national economy. Among the provisions contained in the draft law are the provisions related to the scope of application, the establishment of the electronic register in the Qatar Central Securities Depository and the data to be recorded in the register, the establishment and enforcement of the right of mortgage, and the rights of the mortgagee. The Cabinet also approved a draft law amending some provisions of Law No. (1) of 2019 regulating the investment of non-Qatari capital in economic activity. The draft law includes the amendment of Article (7) of the law so that non-Qatari investors can own up to (100%) of the capital of Qatari shareholding companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange. The Cabinet approved draft decision of the Minister of Finance to apply the requirements of substantial activity to the economic activities practiced in the State of Qatar. In addition, the Cabinet approved a draft protocol amending some provisions of the agreement between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of Bermuda regarding the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of financial evasion with regard to taxes on income. The Cabinet took the necessary measures to ratify an agreement between the State of Qatar and the United Nations regarding the establishment of a United Nations office in the State of Qatar affiliated with the Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in support of the UNOCT program related to the establishment of "International Hub on Behavioral Insights to Counter Terrorism" as a UNOCT Program Office in the State of Qatar. (QNA)

The Assistant Foreign Minister Stresses Qatar's Commitment to Supporting COVAX Internationally

Doha / Information Office / 13 April 2021 The State of Qatar stressed its commitment to the COVAX global initiative for providing access to COVID-19 vaccine on an international scale, stressing that the disproportionate negative impact of the pandemic requires paying special attention to the most vulnerable segments, in order to help them stay resilient and recover. This came in the statement of the State of Qatar read today by HE Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Forum which focuses on development financing in 2021, particularly financing recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic. HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater said that the State of Qatar believes its recovery from the pandemic cannot be achieved unless all segments of its society, particularly the most vulnerable, recover as well. Her Excellency added that this was reflected in providing tests and high-quality healthcare to everyone in Qatar, regardless of nationality or residency status, in addition to the national vaccination program which will cover all targeted segments in the next few months. Her Excellency said that the State of Qatar provided urgent medical to around 78 countries all over the world to help them respond to the pandemic, with total governmental and nongovernmental aid exceeding $88 million. She noted that a total of $20 million were allocated for the international alliance for vaccination, in addition to Qatar Fund for Development signing an agreement worth $10 million with the World Health Organization (WHO) to support its 13th work programme and accelerate the process of providing access to tools that will combat the Coronavirus in countries that are most in need. HE the Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the big role played by Qatar Airways in repatriating more than 3 million people home safely, at a time when most airports around the world were closed. She also said that the State of Qatar was proud to join UN campaign 'Only Together,' out of the country's belief in the importance of partnership, cooperation and guaranteeing quick and equitable access to vaccines all over the world, in addition to its commitment to supporting COVAX. Her Excellency stressed that the disproportionate negative impact of the pandemic requires paying special attention to the most vulnerable segments in order to help them stay resilient and recover, adding that the State of Qatar was pleased to host the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries from Jan. 23-27, 2022, stressing that the country is confident the event will be pivotal in enhancing these countries abilities to face challenges. She said that Doha's work programme will be the first one to respond to challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic to the least developed countries, whether economic or social, in order to help them remain resilient and recover. HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater stressed Qatar's commitment to continued active contributions and support in responding to challenges, as well as moving forward with the implementation of the 2030 sustainable development plan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs: Qatar Gives Utmost Priority to Countering Terrorism

Doha, March 30 - HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani reiterated that the State of Qatar gives an utmost priority to countering terrorism. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined that the State of Qatar is an active partner in the international cooperation in confronting terrorism at the national, regional and international levels; and it will continue to carry out its role as an active partner in the international community to maintain international peace and security, and combat the phenomenon of terrorism locally by participating in all international and regional efforts in this regard, and it will also continue the humanitarian support it provides in order to restore stability in the affected areas in Syria and Iraq. Addressing the virtual meeting of the Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS held on Tuesday, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that terrorism continues to pose a great threat to international peace and security, noting that the success of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, especially in Iraq and Syria, reflects the commitment of the international community to combating terrorism. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance for the international community to participate positively and to provide the necessary support to restore security and peace in the countries facing terrorist groups, such as the Republic of Iraq and other countries, in order to fight this international criminal phenomenon and keep abreast of its developments and forms. He emphasized the need to continue to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and to reintegrate them into their communities, in order to maintain the success of the coalition's efforts in combating terrorism, noting that it is not possible to maintain the positive momentum in the battle against terrorism without addressing its true causes, ending armed conflicts and strengthening the international and regional cooperation in this regard. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs condemned in the strongest terms the current situation in Mozambique and the brutal attacks by the ISIS that threaten the stability of Africa, noting that it is a reminder that the ISIS remains a global threat. HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani extended thanks to HE US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and HE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium Sophie Wilmes for hosting this important meeting which comes amidst ongoing challenges imposed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, noting that holding the meeting affirms the determination of the international community to continue joint efforts within the framework of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.