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Doha, Qatar: The Shura Council on Monday held its regular weekly session at its headquarters in the Tamim bin Hamad Hall, chaired by the Speaker of the Shura Council, HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.
At te outset of the session, the Secretary-General of the Council, HE Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud read out the agenda, after which the Council approved the minutes of its previous session.
During the session, the Council examined a draft law on animal health, referred to it by the esteemed government, and decided to refer it to the Health, Public Services, and Environment Committee for further study and for submission of its report to the Council.
The Council also reviewed the report of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, which included its opinion on the government's statement regarding the Council's proposal on "Supporting National and Foreign Investment," and took the appropriate decision thereon. In this context, the Council commended the government's statement and its responsiveness to the Council's views, as well as the measures and initiatives being implemented to support investment and economic development, which constitute one of the fundamental pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The Council further reviewed a report on the participation of a Council Member. HE Issa bin Ahmed Al Nasr in the parliamentary session held as part of the World Trade Organization's Public Forum in Geneva last September. It also reviewed a report on the participation of Council Member, HE Khalid bin Abbas Kamal Al Emadi in the Sixth Expert Roundtable on Common Principles for Supporting Parliaments, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in December of last year via videoconference.
O the occasion of National Sports Day, which falls on the second Tuesday of February each year and is tomorrow, the Speaker of the Shura Council, HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim affirmed the Council's readiness to participate in the activities of this national event, stressing its importance in raising community awareness of the significance of sports and public health.
His Excellency commended the State's attention to sports and the provision of advanced sports facilities and infrastructure designed for various physical activities, urging the regular use of these facilities to promote a culture of physical activity within the community.
He also underscored the importance of engaging in the diverse activities accompanying National Sports Day, highlighting the vital role of sports in enhancing individual and community health, improving quality of life, and positively impacting various aspects of work and daily life.
HE the Speaker called upon citizens and residents to seize this opportunity to establish sports as a priority and a sustainable lifestyle practiced regularly throughout the year, thereby strengthening community health awareness.
The session was attended by a number of student council members from Tariq Bin Ziyad Secondary School for Boys, Hassaan Bin Thabit Secondary School for Boys, and Qatar Science and Technology School for Boys.
In remarks following the session, HE Council Member Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana, Member of the Shura Council and Chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, commended the government's efforts and its thorough consideration of all the Council's proposals related to supporting national and foreign investment. These proposals included the ongoing evaluation of the Third National Development Strategy; the development of digital licensing systems; the modernization of investment legislation; a review of fees and services; increased support for local products; the localization of strategic industries; expediting the resolution of stalled projects; the provision of investor databases; the regulation of industrial land allocation; and the offering of viable investment projects to the private sector.
His Excellency highlighted the joint work and coordination between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the National Planning Council in the ongoing evaluation of the Third National Development Strategy (2025-2030) through various mechanisms and frameworks. He also noted the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's efforts to develop its digital systems to enhance the business environment and streamline procedures, specifically citing the "One-Stop Shop" project, a unified digital platform for serving investors.
He further noted that the government, through various relevant entities, is currently reviewing several laws that will impact a wide range of commercial activities. He added that fees for activities and services provided to investors are also being reconsidered, pointing out that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, for example, has issued a decision to reduce its service fees by more than 90 percent.
In the same vein, he commended the State's policies to support national products, including incentivizing the purchase of domestic products, supporting their exports, combating practices harmful to national products in international trade, and offering promising investment opportunities to the private sector across various sectors, including recycling.
In conclusion, His Excellency emphasized the complementary roles and close cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities in achieving shared objectives and fulfilling the aspirations of the leadership and the people.
