‘Public-private partnerships play integral role to enable Qatar's transformation'
In an interview with The Peninsula, Bassam Hajhamad, Qatar Country Senior Partner and Consulting Lead, PwC Middle East highlighted Qatar's diversification efforts and the recently held National Development Forum.
The National Development Forum is a catalyst for strategic alignment between the public and private sectors. As Qatar enters a new chapter under its Third National Development Strategy, the forum has helped shift private sector engagement to becoming more proactive, with clear pathways to co-create national outcomes, Hajhamad said.
As part of NDS-3, public-private partnerships (PPPs) play an integral role in enabling the country's transformation. Therefore, Qatar's National Development Forum comes at a strategic time in the country's transformation journey, acting as a valuable platform that strengthens PPPs to support Qatar's strategic objectives under NDS-3.
By bringing together key stakeholders, including government institutions, local enterprises, and international partners, the forum creates an enabling environment for increased private sector participation in national development. This collaboration is essential for leveraging private sector expertise, resources, and innovation to achieve NDS-3 targets, he added.
This engagement has also enabled the private sector to advance its strategies and further align its operations more closely with national goals, with practical discussions around policy reforms, commercial licensing, and investment opportunities translating concrete outcomes on the ground.
Additionally, the forum's impact is seen through its support for sector-specific initiatives, ranging from healthcare and education to tourism and LNG production, which contributes to the country's economic diversification and job creation efforts, while also facilitating innovation and investment led-growth. These initiatives facilitate innovation and investment-led growth, ensuring that the private sector plays a transformative role in Qatar's economic development.
Hajhamad further noted that the National Development Forum plays a central role in enabling organisations to contribute to the realisation of Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) through structured community dialogue and collaborative policy design. By providing space for inclusive discussions on development priorities, the forum ensures alignment between public aspirations and institutional planning.
© Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
The Peninsula Newspaper
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Qatar expands solar power capacity to meet QNV 2030 goals
Doha, Qatar: Qatar is making major strides in renewable energy, with three large-scale solar power plants now operational and more ambitious projects on the horizon, according to Eng Mohammed Abdullah Bu Kashisha, Monitoring Engineer at Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa), in an interview with Qatar TV. Bu Kashisha explained that the establishment of solar plants is a key part of the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030 and the Qatar Renewable Energy Strategy launched by Kahramaa last year. This strategy, developed in collaboration with over 200 state entities over two years, aims to boost renewable power generation, reduce carbon emissions, and support the country's environmental and economic development goals under the Third National Development Strategy 2024–2030. The first and flagship project, Al-Kharsaah Solar Power Plant, located west of Doha, covers 10 square kilometres and consists of nearly 1.8 million solar panels. With a production capacity of 800 megawatts, the plant currently contributes about 5% of Qatar's electricity supply. Over its 25–26 year operational lifespan, it is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 26 million metric tonnes, equivalent to about one million tonnes annually. Two additional plants were launched this year including the Ras Laffan Solar Plant, located in the Ras Laffan Industrial City, and the Mesaieed Solar Plant, in the southeast of the country. Together, they add another 875 megawatts of renewable capacity and are projected to cut 30 million metric tons of carbon emissions over their operating life. Looking ahead, Qatar has already announced its largest and most ambitious solar project yet – the Al-Dhakhira Solar Power Plant, with a planned capacity of 2,000 megawatts. Once completed, it will be among the biggest solar plants in the world, significantly advancing Qatar's clean energy transition. 'These projects reflect Qatar's serious commitment to reducing dependence on oil and gas, diversifying the economy, and supporting the leadership's vision for sustainable growth,' Bu Kashisha noted. In addition to large-scale projects, Kahramaa has launched the 'BeSolar Service', allowing residents, businesses, and farms to install distributed rooftop solar panels. Customers can generate their own power, feed excess electricity back into the national grid, and benefit from net metering through smart meters, which offset their monthly bills. 'This initiative gives every household and business the opportunity to contribute to Qatar's renewable energy goals,' Bu Kashisha explained. 'If your solar system produces more electricity than you consume, the surplus is exported to the grid, and the credit is reflected in your monthly statement.' Qatar's renewable energy expansion highlights the country's growing role in the global clean energy movement. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
5 days ago
- Zawya
Qatar: Fintech gains momentum with digital payments and blockchain at forefront
DOHA: Qatar's fintech landscape is surging forward with remarkable momentum, driven by bold government initiatives, modern regulatory frameworks, and a thriving ecosystem of startups and corporate champions, an expert remarked. With nearly 99 percent of Qatar's population using online and smartphone penetration nearly universal, digital transactions have become the norm. Contactless payments now account for 96 percent of in-store transactions, spanning platforms such as Karwa Taxis and PayPal-enabled services, according to the MENA Fintech Association. 'Qatar is no longer just following global fintech trends—it's becoming a regional leader,' Sarah McAllister, a global fintech analyst, told The Peninsula. 'The integration of digital payments, open banking frameworks, and blockchain infrastructure is not only modernising financial services but is positioning Qatar as an innovation hub in the Gulf.' Meanwhile, the Qatar Mobile Payment initiative, launched by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) in April 2025, allows users to link multiple wallets to a single phone number, streamlining transactions further, and mobile money platforms such as Ooredoo Money are innovating to serve expatriate communities, which enables remittances and cross-border transfers, including to PayPal accounts. The QCB introduced its fintech strategy in 2023, which features open banking as a key pillar, with a formal regulatory framework expected by 2026. On the other hand, blockchain and digital assets are emerging as strategic frontiers. Tasmu Digital Valley projects that Qatar's blockchain market could skyrocket from $33m in 2022 to $253m by 2026. McAllister noted that these developments have attracted global attention. Doha hosted the MENA Fintech Summit this year, drawing policymakers, investors, and innovators from across the region. The event highlighted sessions like the insurtech, blockchain, embedded finance, and the role of fintech in sustainable development. 'What sets Qatar's strategy apart is its coherence: regulatory foresight via the QCB, ecosystem development through QFTH, and the digital infrastructure built by private and public players all align under Qatar 2030's vision,' the market expert noted. As Qatar continues to expand its fintech footprint, several key trends are emerging. With open APIs and digital partnerships, banks and non-bank players are increasingly embedding financial services into everyday platforms. On the other hand, with Islamic and sustainable fintech, tailored products that align with religious and ESG standards are gaining ground. Additionally, the QCB's phased licensing for digital banks, with initial capital requirements lays a strong foundation for innovation. Industry leaders stress that these efforts reflect Qatar's ambition to build a diversified and knowledge-based economy. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
6 days ago
- Zawya
Qatar's infrastructure market poised for growth spurred by policy support, investment incentives
Doha, Qatar: Qatar's infrastructure sector is poised for robust expansion over the next five years, driven by government capital spending, strategic economic diversification, and ambitious energy and transportation upgrades. According to Mordor Intelligence, the infrastructure market for construction works across diverse sectors is valued at $33.40bn (QR121.59bn) in 2025 and is projected to reach $41.30bn (QR150.35bn) by 2030, expanding at a 4.30 percent CAGR. The data highlights that the sustained expansion rests on the Third National Development Strategy's mandate to diversify the economy, the $22.2bn five-year capital plan from the Public Works Authority, and the country's rapid digital-infrastructure rollout that has already delivered median 5G download speeds above 520 Mbps. Speaking to The Peninsula, Neil Wilson, Managing Director at The Sovereign Group, said: 'Currently, several sectors in Qatar stand out as highly attractive for foreign investors. Infrastructure and construction remain strong due to ongoing development projects and preparations for future events.' On the other hand, the report highlights the transportation infrastructure as a dominant focus. Seven new expressways, metro extensions, and capacity enhancements at Hamad Port are designed to transform Qatar into a pivotal logistics hub for the Gulf region. Parallel to this, the North Field LNG expansion that boosts output from 77 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 142 MTPA is channelling multibillion-dollar EPC contracts into marine facilities, processing complexes, and export terminals. 'The energy sector, particularly renewable energy and natural gas, continues to offer significant opportunities as Qatar diversifies its energy portfolio. Finance and banking are also growing rapidly, supported by regulatory reforms and Qatar's role as a regional financial hub. Additionally, technology and innovation sectors, including digital services and smart city initiatives, are gaining momentum as the country invests heavily in modernisation,' the analyst explained. The data indicates that private-sector participation is rising sharply, enabled by 100 percent foreign-ownership rules, signalling greater public-private collaboration across major projects. Meanwhile, environmental priorities are also shaping the market, as tightening green-building codes open opportunities in renovation and retrofitting for contractors offering low-carbon solutions. The market expert noted that the biggest drivers attracting foreign investors include the $1bn incentive programme, which was launched in 2025, offering up to 40 percent support on setup, leasing, staffing, and equipment costs for companies in strategic sectors. Wilson also pointed out that the full-foreign ownership law enables investors to completely own businesses in most sectors, with streamlined approval processes, a low tax rate, and the right to repatriate profits and capital. Additionally, QFC, QFZ, and QSTP offer full ownership, tax exemptions, customs waivers, and sector-specific legal and infrastructure support. 'These policies have created a highly competitive, transparent, and investor-friendly environment that's driving record levels of foreign business registrations,' he said. Wilson further added, 'Tourism and hospitality are emerging sectors as Qatar promotes itself as a global destination, creating new opportunities for foreign investment. Overall, these sectors align well with Qatar's National Vision 2030 goals and offer promising prospects for investors.' As Qatar advances towards its 2030 economic vision, the infrastructure sector's trajectory underscores the nation's dual focus on physical connectivity and economic openness redefining its role in the regional and global economy. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
