Shura Council submits two proposals regarding investment, agricultural support
DOHA: The Shura Council has held its regular weekly session at the Tamim bin Hamad Hall at the Council's headquarters, chaired by Speaker of the Council HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.
At the beginning of the session, Secretary-General of the Council HENayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud,read out the agenda, and the Council approved the minutes of its previous session.
During the session, the Council reviewed the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee's report on the request for a general discussion submitted by a number of members, regarding support for national and foreign investment.
During the discussion of the report, Al Ghanim affirmed that the State of Qatar has achieved remarkable progress in the investment environment over the past years. He highlighted the importance of developing relevant legislation and policies and improving support services, which will enhance the country's position as a global investment hub and contribute to supporting the pillars of the national economy.
While reviewing the report, Vice Chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee HEIssa bin Ahmed Al-Nasser, referred to the results of the committee's meetings, its review of the opinions of specialists, and the recommendations reached regarding expediting procedures, updating regulations, enhancing transparency, and improving the legislative and regulatory infrastructure to attract investment.
After extensive discussions on the report's findings, the Council decided to submit a proposal to the government, which included a number of recommendations to support domestic and foreign investment, most notably, the ongoing evaluation of the Third National Strategy, the development of digital licensing systems, updating investment legislation, reviewing fees and services, increasing support for local products, localizing strategic industries, accelerating the resolution of stalled projects, providing databases for investors, regulating the allocation of industrial land, and offering feasible investment projects to the private sector.
During the session, the Council also reviewed the report of the Health, Public Services and Environment Affairs Committee on the request for a general discussion regarding agricultural support mechanisms provided to local farms and the extent of their contribution to enhancing food security.
In this context, the speaker of the Council stressed the importance of developing agricultural support policies that are consistent with food security and sustainability requirements, noting the role of national farms in achieving self-sufficiency and the importance of removing obstacles that limit their ability to compete.
During his review of the report, Chairman of the Health, Public Services and Environment Affairs Committee HEMubarak bin Mohammed Al Matar Al Kuwari, addressed the report's findings and proposals, which addressed the legislative, financial, technical and regulatory aspects of agricultural support, and the committee's recommendations after listening to the views of relevant authorities.
After discussing the committee's findings, the Council decided to submit a proposal to the government, which included a number of measures to support local farms, most notablyenacting clear legislation to support local production, linking support to the level of production, reducing electricity bills, providing agricultural consultations, encouraging contracts with the private sector, establishing product pricing mechanisms, strengthening quality control over imported goods, encouraging manufacturing industries, imposing import restrictions during local production seasons, and providing accurate statistics to support agricultural planning.
The session continued, with the Council reviewing the draft law on biometric fingerprints and the draft law on genetic fingerprints, both referred to it by the government. The Council decided to refer them to the Internal and External Affairs Committee for study and submission of its reports on them.
The Council then reviewed the report on its delegation's participation in the Bureau meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean at its fifty-fourth session and the 19th plenary session of the Assembly, both held in the Italian capital, Rome, last February.
The Council also reviewed the report on its delegation's visit to the Hungarian Parliament in April, as well as the report on the participation of Arab Parliament members in the fourth session of the first session of the fourth legislative term of the Arab Parliament, which was held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in April.
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