Al-Attiyah Addresses Arab-German Business Forum

Berlin, June 14 (QNA) - The Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Chairman, HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, took part on Thursday in the15th Arab-German Business Forum held on 13-15 June 2012 in Berlin , Germany. Addressing the forum, HE Al-Attiyah underlined the importance of pushing forward and promoting the Arab-German ties as the region witnesses political and economic changes enabling it to create a new future more secure and stable and offer opportunities for trade and investment to investors from around the world. The State of Qatar has adopted over the past few years a number of balanced development policies aimed at joining the ranks of the world's most developed countries by 2030 in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 under the wise direction of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, said HE Al-Attiyah. Achieving the comprehensive and sustainable development is one of the key principles stated in Qatar National Vision, he explained. The Qatari economy is one of the world's fastest growing economies with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7% despite the current financial turmoil and recessionary trend for the world economy, said Al-Attiyah. Qatar's real GDP growth was 18.8% in 2011 and the IMF is forecasting further growth of 7.0% in 2012, he added. These achievements were realized thanks to the development programmes and policies being implemented by the Qatari leadership thus Qatar has succeeded to build bridges of communication between the Arab world and its German and European partners in general, he added. The State of Qatar has as well succeeded to create a favorable investment atmosphere, put into practice balanced strategies allowing the responsible use of resources while modernizing the overall infrastructure, the legislative framework and consolidating the culture of openness. HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah underlined that the State of Qatar had ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa region in credit rating which has facilitated acquiring loans and securing capital, adding that it has maintained its 14th standing as part of the first 20 economies in the Global Competitiveness Report 2011 and stood 22nd internationally in the International Transparency Report for the same year. Qatar's placement ahead of the US and France in both reports asserts the extent of the strength and dynamism of its economy and its competitiveness, HE explained. In assertion of this economic advancement which Qatar has achieved internationally and rooting the culture of openness to the external world, Qatar headed towards driving major investment into developed countries to foster relations with them and benefit from their expertise and technical capabilities, which concurrently secures investments for future generations, indicated HE Al-Attiyah. In turn, Qatar has increasingly attracted entrepreneurs as well as non-governmental institutions, organizations and international firms in all fields, HE remarked. These conscious policies had to emanate from a well-established foundation crystallized in building a pioneering and developed society boasting components and mechanisms of advancement and refinement, hence building the Qatari persona with knowledge-based cognition, another strategic choice from among development options, HE indicated. HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Al-Attiyah concluded his speech by pointing out Qatar and Germany's bilateral relations; which HE described as having witnessed during the past few years a notable development. Mutual visits on all levels have achieved more closeness and cooperation, as both countries have reached joint understandings and agreements to advance partnerships leading to goods and service exchanges reaching 1.2 billion euros in 2010, which included supporting environmental investment and joint strategic projects such as infrastructure in addition to the Qatar Rail project, HE explained. HE Qatar's Ambassador to Germany Abdulrahman Mohamed Alkulaifi and a number of senior Qatari and German officials attended the opening ceremony of the 15th Arab-German Business Forum. Qatar will present a number of documents during the Forum sessions, which will shed the light on its economy and available investment opportunities, and allow for the Qatari and German sides to build partnerships and alliances servicing both economies. The 15th Arab-German Business Forum will present both Arab and German businessmen with a unique platform to bolster existing relations and provide an opportunity for expanding knowledge and communication channels. Furthermore, it will showcase new issues including food security and retail trade, also the role of small and medium enterprises in economic cooperation. A large number of decision makers from the political arena, businessmen, and representatives from large firms will participate in the Forum. (QNA)