‘Developing Partnership between Public & Private Sectors’ conference on March 17

DOHA: The first conference on ‘Developing Partnership between Public and Private Sectors’ which is organised under the patronage of Qatar Chamber (QC) Chairman Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani will open at the Sheraton Doha on March 17.

The conference will bring together businessmen and companies with governmental entities to review prospects for public private partnerships (PPPs), in the light of the awaited PPP law which has been approved by the cabinet recently and is expected to be issued soon, QC announced yesterday.

Discussions during the event will highlight various approaches and international experiences on PPPs which will be presented by experts and specialists in the field.

The conference, which is expected to help prepare Qatar’s private sector in organising itself to benefit from the PPP law upon its approval, will also serve as a platform to accommodate the views of the private sector towards PPPs and help provide greater understanding of the law and its applications.

Addressing a press conference at the QC headquarters yesterday, QC Director General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, reiterated that holding the conference highlights the Chamber’s efforts in enhancing partnerships between the public and private sectors in Qatar.

He added: “QC had previously organised a conference on the partnership between public and private sectors. And it was the conference which recommended the need to issue a law regulating PPPs. The upcoming conference will play an important role in helping businessmen and companies’ representatives learn about PPP, its benefits to the business sectors, as well as the opportunities it provides”.

Sheikh Dr. Thani bin Ali bin Saud Al Thani, Chair of the conference’s organising committee, said the attendance of the Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari during the opening session, demonstrates the importance of governmental partnership.

The press conference was also attended by a number of representatives from various companies and sponsors, including Qatar Primary Materials Company CEO Issa Kaldari, QFC Chief Legal Officer Nasser Al Taweel, Qatar Development Bank Marketing and Communication Director Saud Ahmed Al Bouainain, Qatar Ports Communication and Public Relations Director Hamad Ali Al Ansari, and Hawkamah Centre Director Babekir Osman.

Sponsors for the event include Qatar National Bank as a Strategic Partner, Ashgal as Platinum Sponsor, QDB and Qatar Initial Materials Company as Gold Sponsors, and Qatar Free Zones Authority, Qatar Financial Centre and Mubarak Al Sulaiti Law Firm as Silver Sponsors.

QNB Group Communications General Manager Yousef Ali Darwish, said: “We, as QNB, are committed to providing full support to the conference as a Strategic Partner. We praise the role played by Qatar Chamber in enhancing and promoting laws that aim to develop partnership between both sectors for the advantage of Qatari economy according to the best international practices and experiences”.