Under the Patronage of HH The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and the presence of the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim Al-Thani, the Second Qatar Economic Forum was launched at the Sheraton Doha Hotel and Resorts on Monday, May 21, 2007 with the attendance of over 1300 top officials, business leaders and experts from Qatar and other Gulf and Arab countries.

The Forum concluded its sessions on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 and was organized by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce in Qatar and Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group in partnership with the Qatari Businessmen Association and Qatar Financial Centre.

During the opening, the Forum organizers presented the Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Life Achievement Award for Qatar to honor:

• AL Faisal Holding Company
• Qatar National Bank
• Al Fardan Group
• Nasser Bin Khaled Al-Thani Holding Co.
• Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
• Salam International

The Topics of the Forum included:

• Future vision of the Qatari Economy: The future reforms; Investments choices of oil and gas surpluses; Facing the inflation resulting from the rapid growth: and The development choices: What are the targeted sectors for development and what are the best means to develop them and transform them into competitive sectors?
• Investment Climate and Future Role of the Private Sector: Investment incentives in Qatar; Requirements for investment legal and legislative climate development; Obstacles to investments; and Role of the private sector in promoting investment and enhancing foreign investment
• Oil and Gas and Future Choices: Development of oil fields, oil production and related sectors; Future of the gas sector; and Development of basic industries that use gas as raw material
• Banking Sector and Financing Opportunities: Performance of the banking sector: strong and weak points; Benefiting from Project finance market: local banks versus foreign banks; and Openness of the banking market and Qatari banks expansion
• Future of Qatar as a Regional Financial Center: Prospects and potentials of Qatar as a Financial center in a regional saturated market; Reviewing the control framework in Qatar Financial Center and its achievements; and Opportunities in private banking services and wealth management
• Real Estate Development: Orientations and Opportunities: Reality and potentials of the real estate market in Qatar; Mega projects in real estate and urban planning; and Contracting market and expected projects
• Infrastructure vision: Development plans for electricity, water and waste water systems; Development plans for the road network and transportation means; and Different stages of the airport and port project

The President of the Qatar Businessmen’s Association Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem bin Faisal Al-Thani expressed his conviction that the heavy participation at the Forum reflected an intense interest on the part of the Arab and international business and financial community in the fast paced development of the Qatari economy, the wide range of investment opportunities that it offers, and the welcoming investment environment. It is well known that Qatar has posted record economic growth in recent years on the strength of a well-studied use of its substantial oil and natural gas resources.