The Shura Council State of Qatar

The Shura Council held today its weekly meeting of the forty-seventh regular session. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdulla Bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud, Speaker of the Council.

The Council discussed the draft State budget for the fiscal year 2019 and the draft law for adoption of the budget, in presence of Mr. Ali Sharif Al-Emadi, Minister of Finance, H.E. Dr. Saad Bin Ahmed Al-Mohannadi, President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and a number of the senior officials from the Ministry of Finance.

His Excellency the Minister of Finance explained the Government's view on the draft budget and replied to questions and inquiries from members of the Council.

At the beginning of the discussion of the draft budget, His Excellency the Speaker of the Council expressed the profound thanks and appreciation to his Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al- Thani, the Emir "May Allah protect him" for his wisdom and good guidance and rational policies that enabled the country to occupy the prestigious position and to have a strong economy that is capable for growth at high rates and to gain trust of the global financial institutions.

His Excellency said that it is a source of our gratification to find that the instructions and visions of His Highness the Emir in the draft budget and embodied in its objectives, its philosophy and in its bases. 

 His Excellency the Speaker of the Shura Council stressed that the foundations that underpin the draft budget, have received the appreciation, commend and support of the members of the Council.
 

It also aims to provide the necessary appropriations for national plans and projects of Qatar Vision 2030 and for continuing of work to increase non-oil revenues and to provide  financial allocations for completion of major projects and projects associated with the World Cup 2022, along with the infrastructure development in the economic and industrial and logistical zones, the development of the business environment, promoting the role of the private sector and to support food security projects, and to allocate adequate resources over five years to develop an integrated structure for properties of the citizens and to continue to work on increasing the efficiency of public spending.

He further added that, in the light of these principles and objectives, the draft budget meets expectations and comes in consistent with the requirements of the era, as well it opens up prospects for further development and construction in various areas of development and services, and it will increase the strength and durability of our economy and the country's sovereignty and maintain our free will and independent national decision and will achieve the ambitions and aspirations of the loyal Qatari People.

His Excellency the Speaker of the Shura Council added it gives us pride to be proud of our leadership and our loyal people to see our country realizing all these achievements and move toward the future with confidence and vigour despite the unjust blockade imposed on it. His Excellency as well appreciated the keenness of the esteemed Government to implement the budget items efficiently.

His Excellency the Speaker of the Council then thanked in his name and in the name of the members of the Council, H. E. the Minister of Finance, H. E. the President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and the accompanying team of the officials, for attending the meeting of the Council and for answering the questions of the members.

After extensive and substantive discussions, the Council praised the draft of the State budget for the fiscal year 2019. He as well appraised the efforts of the distinguished Government 
and what  the government  exerts to  implement the plans and the programs, within the National Development Strategy  for the years 2018 – 2022 and Qatar National Vision 2030.