HE the Prime Minister Opens the Institute of International Finance Annual Meeting

Doha, March 15 (QNA) - HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani opened on Sunday the Institute of International Finance (IIF) annual meeting: Global Energy at a Turning Point, at the Doha Ritz Carlton Hotel. More than 500 personalities from 50 countries of former prime ministers, companies officials, economists, and experts in the fields of finance, energy, banking, sovereign funds and insurance companies are taking part in the meeting. Several of Their Excellencies Sheikhs and Ministers, businessmen and guests attended the opening. Addressing the opening session, HE the Premier and Interior Minister welcomed the guests of the 2015 IIF Spring Membership Meeting in Doha, which is being held in the MENA region for the first time, highlighting the growing importance of the region on the global economic and financial arenas. Over two days, the participants will discuss a number of key issues related to the economic and financial conditions whether in the MENA regional or the global arena, HE the Prime Minister said. Among these issues are the recent developments in the energy sector and its repercussions on the global economy and the exporting and consuming countries of oil and gas, in addition to the risks and trends in financial markets, the expectations of economic growth in a number of countries, Islamic banking and other critical issues for investors and policymakers alike, HE the Premier added. The Prime Minister looked forward to hearing the views on the various topics and its repercussions on the global economy from the elite of experts and specialists in the international financial institutions and supervisory and control organs who are taking part in the meeting. He reiterated the commitment of the State of Qatar to continue its investment in key sectors, namely infrastructure, health and education and the transition to a knowledge economy, despite the sharp decline in energy prices in the global markets over the past few months, in implementation of the wise directives of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, along with the projects to host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup amounting to USD 200 billion over the next seven years. The previous crises in oil prices in the international markets, pushed the State of Qatar to diversify sources of income through the exploitation of the vast natural gas reserves, to become the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in the world, HE the Premier said. He underlined that the state focuses on achieving the optimum utilization of energy sources and direct the revenues to promote sustainable development and diversification of the economy. The Prime Minister explained that these efforts have led to high rates of economic growth and strengthen the financial position and the state's reserves to ensure the continued implementation of the investment program and to achieve the development goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The success of the State of Qatar in promoting economic growth is evident in the economic data. The GDP growth was nearly 6% in 2014, and it is expected to reach up to 7% in 2015, along with maintaining inflation at acceptable levels within the limits of 3% per annum, the Prime Minister said. (MORE)