Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman of the Permanent Organizing Committee of the Qatar Economic Forum, confirmed that the fourth edition of the forum was exceptional and achieved its intended goals in terms of organization, noting a significant increase in the number of sessions and participants. In a special interview with Qatar News Agency, he stated: "The sessions of the Qatar Economic Forum were distinguished and included 149 keynote speakers and a large number of side sessions, which enhanced the forum's status as one of the most important economic events on the global scene."
He added that the main sessions were notable for the presence of several state leaders and economic experts, during which a wide range of topics were discussed, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing global challenges and sustainably seizing available opportunities. The Chairman of the Permanent Organizing Committee of the Qatar Economic Forum mentioned that the participation of representatives from financial institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank and the Qatar Investment Authority provided insights into wealth management, innovation, and strategic investments, which increased interest in topics related to the digital economy, energy transition, and emerging technology applications.
Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani stated that among the most notable features of this edition of the forum was the diversity of participants and the increase in the number of qualitative sessions, in addition to a rise in the number of memorandums of understanding signed, reflecting the forum's importance as a platform for communication and economic partnerships.
He said: "The fourth edition witnessed unprecedented interest in forum sponsorship, as major companies benefited from the previous forum, prompting them to join the list of sponsors to take advantage of the distinguished benefits."
The Chairman explained that the actual attendance for this edition reached 2,700 participants, including nearly 1,300 international participants, most of whom were leaders and CEOs of major global companies, which increases opportunities for investment and partnerships between Qatari and international entities, in addition to the participation of 17 parliamentarians and mayors, 34 international and local ministers, and 427 government representatives, while five heads of state and government attended, representing 124 countries.
He indicated that during this edition of the forum, 21 local and international memorandums of understanding were signed, with a high level of economic returns, while the forum was sponsored by 16 local and international sponsors, including 149 keynote speakers and side discussions, with 78 speakers on the main platform, including 13 Qatari speakers and three heads of states. The events included 37 main sessions, consisting of two speeches, 11 interviews, and 24 discussion sessions.
Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani confirmed that the forum achieved its intended goals, especially with the increase in the number of international participants, the diversity of sessions and topics presented, and the large number of bilateral meetings, which affirms that the forum continues to develop and strengthen its position on the international stage.
In his dialogue with "QNA," he noted that the primary message the organizers wanted to convey through the forum is that Qatar is considered a global economic hub capable of bringing together leaders and experts from around the world to exchange ideas on vital economic issues, reflecting Qatar's commitment to enhancing international cooperation and sustainable development.
He pointed out that the Qatar Economic Forum can be classified among the leading economic forums worldwide, especially after the success achieved in its fourth edition. The Chairman of the Permanent Organizing Committee of the Qatar Economic Forum also mentioned that the main development plans for future iterations of the forum focus on more specialization in sessions, hosting a larger number of prominent global figures, and expanding the scope of participants to include more countries and institutions, indicating that the forum aims to foster new economic partnerships, increase the number of high-level bilateral meetings, and expand agreements that lead to investments and beneficial partnerships for all participants.
