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National Workshop on Enhancing Integrated Development Planning in the State of Qatar

26/10/2021 - 27/10/2021

Introduction

The Planning and Statistics Authority in the State of Qatar, in cooperation with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), organized a national workshop entitled "Enhancing Integrated National Development Planning in the State of Qatar" on 26 and 27 October 2021 in Doha at JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel. The workshop was attended by around 100 participants from ministries and government agencies, the private sector, civil society organizations, ESCWA and Qatar-based UN organizations.• This workshop falls within the framework of the activities of the Development Account project "Towards the Arab Horizon 2030: Enhancing Integrated National Development Planning in the Arab Region". This workshop falls within the framework of the activities of the Development Account project "Towards the Arab Horizon 2030: Enhancing Integrated National Development Planning in the Arab Region". This workshop also comes within the recommendations of the report "Legislative Frameworks for the Business Environment in the Arab Countries", prepared by ESCWA in 2021.

Over the course of two days, the workshop dealt with two main themes; the first related to development planning at the national level, using tools prepared by ESCWA, in particular Qatar's experience in preparing Qatar National Vision 2030 and National Development Strategies. The second theme was related to the business environment and foreign direct investment. The workshop mainly focused on the following main topics:

  1. ESCWA's tools and materials related to integrated planning.
  2. Successes and challenges in the national development planning in the State of Qatar.
  3. Public policies and regulatory reforms, especially in the field of foreign direct investment.

Opening Speeches

His Excellency Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit
President of Planning and Statistics Authority

Opening Speech
HE Dr. Rola Dashti
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA
Opening Speech

Event Details

Agenda

Agenda

Day 1: 26 October 2021

8:30 - 9:00
Registration
9:00 – 9:30
Reception and Opening Session
  1. Speech of HE Dr. Saleh M. Al-Nabit, President of Planning and Statistics Authority.
  2. Speech of HE Dr. Rola Dashti, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA
9:30 – 10:20
Session One: Introduction to ESCWA Tools
Moderator: Dr. Ahmad Hussein, Planning and Statistics Authority
  1. Reports and training tools prepared by ESCWA in the field of development planning
    Ms. Natalie Khaled, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCWA
  2. Complementary modeling tools that enhance the national development planning process
    Mr. Hadi Bashir, Head of Economic Modeling and Analysis Section, ESCWA
10:20 – 10:30
Discussions
10:30 – 11:20
Session Two: : Development Planning in the State of Qatar, Successes and Challenges
Moderator: Mr. Hadi Bashir, ESCWA
  1. Strengths and Weaknesses of Qatar's Second National Development Strategy (2022-2018)
    Ms. Natalie Khaled, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCWA
  2. The experience of the State of Qatar in the field of national development planning, and lessons learned
    Ms. Noora Al-Merekhi, Director of the Strategic Planning Department, Planning and Statistics Authority
11:20 – 11:30
Discussions
11:30 – 12:00
Coffee Break
12:00 – 1:30
Session Three: Working Groups
Moderator: Ms. Natalie Khaled, ESCWA
  1. Working group sessions to determine the strengths and weaknesses facing national planning in the State of Qatar based on the planning phases, allowing participants to share their experiences and most important successes related to the national planning process, especially identifying gaps and designing appropriate recommendations and next steps
    ESCWA team / Planning and Statistics Authority team
  2. The working groups present their outputs and the outcome of the discussions to the audience. These outputs are then discussed, opinions are expressed, and questions are asked to the groups
    ESCWA Team
1:30
Lunch

Day 2: 27 October 2021

8:30 - 9:00
Registration
9:00 – 10:00
Session Four: Global FDI Trends and Landscape
Moderator: Ms. Natalie Khaled, ESCWA
  1. Presentation of the current global FDI landscape, inclusive of the post-COVID-19 pandemic, and future prospects. The session will detail overarching trends in FDI, inclusive of legal, financial, regulatory in FDI attraction. Participants will also be presented with present best practices to identify obstacles and opportunities to attract direct investment in across the globe, the MENA and Qatar.
    Mr. Luigi Mercury, FDI Trainer and Expert, ESCWA
10:00 – 10:15
Discussions
10:15 – 11:20
Session Five:Legislative Frameworks for the Business Environment in Arab Countries – Qatar Country Brief and Qatar Economic Diversification Policies
Moderator: Dr. Saad Mohamed Khalil, Planning and Statistics Authority
  1. Presentation of the methodology, results and discussion points of a research study covering business legislative frameworks of 22 Arab countries. Participants will be presented with Qatar’s results from the study, focusing on legislative indicators for Foreign Direct Investment.
    Mr. Sami Halabi, Program Trainer and Adviser, ESCWA
  2. Presentation of Economic Diversification Policies and Stimulating the Private Sector and Foreign Investment. Latent Challenges and Achievements in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic
    Mr. Ali Khaled Al-Khulaifi, Director of Planning and Quality Department, Ministry of Industry and Commerce
11:20 – 11:30
Discussions
11:30 – 12:00
Coffee Break
12:00 – 1:20
Session Six:Best Practices in FDI attraction and A simulation exercise based on the sessions
Moderator: Ms. Natalie Khaled, ESCWA
  1. Presentation of methods to improve implementation and optimizing Investment Promotion Agencies/Economic Development Organizations and sharing of examples of the stages of investment attraction. Participants will also be presented with examples of how to define and benchmark a national FDI value proposition alongside necessary procedures, strategies and tactics for attracting companies.
    Mr. Luigi Mercury, FDI Trainer and Expert, ESCWA
  2. Simulation Exercise: How to implement the visit of an international investor to the State of Qatar: Trainees are asked to define strategy and organization, study national policies, define objectives, sector and market strategy, and facilitate investment.
    ESCWA Team
  3. The results of the simulation exercise and the outcome of the discussions are presented to the audience.
    ESCWA Team
1:20 - 1:30
Conclusion and Recommendations
1:30
Lunch
Workshop Objectives

Workshop Objectives

The workshop aimed to introduce and involve direct and indirect stakeholders from ministries, government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, research centers, universities and international and regional organizations in the process of development planning, capacity-building and enhancing understanding of opportunities and challenges related to the promotion of foreign direct investment in the State of Qatar, as well as developing knowledge of national and regional regulatory frameworks of foreign direct investment. The workshop also aimed to provide participants with the skills, tools and ideas necessary to consolidate the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and integrate them into the national development strategies and plans.

Documents

Documents

Press Release
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Concept Note
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Photo Album

Photo Album

To view photo album, please click here