The fourth edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, inaugurated yesterday by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, has garnered significant global interest due to its discussions on global economic issues and challenges, as well as innovative visions to bring about substantial changes in the future of global investments. The significant qualitative leap we observed in this new edition of the forum reflects the Emir's commitment to making the forum an important annual platform that gathers leaders, prime ministers, and experts from around the world to devise innovative and new ideas for addressing issues affecting the global economy, discussing its current state, growth prospects, challenges, and solutions, in addition to enhancing the country's efforts to establish its position as a pivotal trade center for businesses worldwide. It serves as an international annual platform.
The forum presents an opportunity to globally promote the Qatari economy by highlighting the incentives and facilitations it offers to attract more investments and business ventures, as well as increasing confidence in the Qatari economy, which stimulates economic growth and accelerates its pace. Through a strategic partnership between Bloomberg Media and Qatar's Media City, the forum has become one of the most influential business forums in the region.
### Distinguished Status
The Emir expressed these objectives succinctly on platform "X," emphasizing that the forum, held in cooperation with Bloomberg, has become "a global platform to present constructive ideas regarding global economic and geopolitical issues and offer innovative proposals to overcome the challenges posed." Undoubtedly, Qatar's prestigious position on the global economic map has also been an important factor in establishing the status of the Economic Forum, which attracted more than 1,000 world leaders in its fourth edition, including heads of states, prime ministers, and ministers, as well as influential thinkers and decision-makers from around 50 countries.
The forum successfully highlighted the business environment that Qatar provides and the available investment opportunities through rich sessions and a roster of speakers, including ministers and senior officials. It addressed the advancements made in implementing major developmental projects and Qatar's efforts to uphold the commitment to the multilateral global trading system, strengthen economic openness, and solidify cooperation ties with various trading partners.
### Economic Successes
In his opening speech at the forum, held under the theme "A Changing World... Navigating the Unknown," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, outlined Qatar's economic successes that have made it "a beacon of economic opportunities for many," attracting investors worldwide due to the foundations it provides for economic success that helps uplift the region, allowing everyone to enjoy this prosperity.
### Digital Transformation
The Prime Minister's speech clearly indicated how Qatar is racing against time towards a comprehensive digital transformation through increased investments in technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence. To this end, a package of incentives amounting to 9 billion Qatari riyals has been allocated, in addition to hosting the "Web Summit" conference for the first time in the Middle East and Africa, aimed at strengthening partnerships with major investors and sharing expertise with technology pioneers from around the world. On the sidelines of this summit, the project "Start in Qatar" was launched, leading to the registration of more than 250 startups.
Qatar marked this direction during the forum with the announcement by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the launch of the Arab artificial intelligence project "Alfanar," which will primarily rely on collecting quality data in Arabic and contribute to enriching large language models while preserving the Arab identity. The Foreign Minister emphasized that the world of artificial intelligence is vast and requires substantial investments in infrastructure and application, alongside improving the foundational programs for its use.
### Timely Occasion
The forum's importance is magnified by its timing amidst numerous global economic and security challenges, particularly the economic repercussions of the war in Gaza, the risks of widening the conflict affecting the security and stability of the region and the world, as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis entering its third year, with serious repercussions for Russian gas supplies to Europe. These issues were prominently addressed by speakers, including officials, ministers, thought leaders, and economists.
### Qatari Responsibility
The developments in Gaza and the significant role that Qatar plays in international mediation with active partners to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, while facilitating the delivery of humanitarian, food, and medical aid to the residents of the area, were central to the Prime Minister's address. He affirmed Qatar's ongoing efforts to halt the aggression in Gaza and its historical role and duty as an active mediator seeking to protect the lives of the Palestinian people, stating, "Despite facing many challenges in the past few weeks, which prompted us to reassess… we did not want to be exploited as mediators, and we wanted to clarify to everyone that our role is limited to mediation, and this is what we are doing and will continue to do, and I believe we have made significant progress."
