Emir issues law on regulating investment of non-Qatari capital
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued Law No 9 of 2014 amending some provisions of Law No 13 of 2000 on regulating the investment of non-Qatari capital in economic activity.
The law stipulates that non-Qatari investors are allowed to own not more than 49% of the shares of Qatari shareholding companies listed on Qatar Exchange after they gain the approval of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce for the proposed percentage in the company’s memorandum of association and statute.
Based on a recommendation by the Minister, these investors are also allowed to own more than the percentage in question provided that they attain Cabinet approval. GCC nationals are to be treated as Qatari citizens in the ownership of companies listed on Qatar Exchange.
The law is effective starting from its date of issue and is to be published in the official gazette.
New decrees issued
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued the following decrees:
1. Decree No 34 of 2014 approving the accession to Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialised Agencies, which was adopted in 1947.
2. Decree No 35 of 2014 ratifying a grant agreement between the governments of Qatar and the Tunisian Republic to fund the construction of social housing in the town of Sakiet Sidi Youssef in Kef governorate, which was signed on 12 March 2013.
Instruments of ratification
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has issued the following instruments of ratification:
1. Approving a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of energy technology between the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Qatar and the Ministry of Economy of Croatia, signed in the city of Zagreb on 5.12.2013.
2. Approving a draft agreement between the Ministry of Interior of Qatar and the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam on the prevention and fighting of transnational crimes, signed in Doha on 29.5.2014.
3. Approving a draft agreement between the governments of Qatar and the Swiss Confederation Council on the exemption of the two countries’ subjects carrying diplomatic, special and service passports from entry visas, residence and departure permits, signed in Doha on 29.5.2014.
Emir endorses Cabinet decisions
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has endorsed the following Cabinet decisions:
1. Cabinet decision No 33 of 2014 setting up the Foreign Ministry’s Tenders Committee.
The decision stipulates that the committee undertakes the functions of the two central and local tenders committees, incorporated in the tenders’ regulating law with regard to the ministry’s tenders.
2. Cabinet decision No 35 of 2014 setting up a committee organising heavy transport. The decision stipulated that the committee shall study all matters related to heavy transport affairs, especially means of organising heavy transport and proposing appropriate relevant mechanisms and drawing up frameworks and rules for the nationalisation of heavy transport activity in co-ordination with the authorities concerned.
3. Cabinet decision No 36 of 2014 establishing a national committee on customs clearance (Single Window).
Ministry warning
on cyber crimes
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has warned citizens and residents against falling prey to cyber crimes (electronic fraud) through the Internet, local daily Al Arab has reported.
On its official Twitter account, the MoI has advised people to protect themselves from such crimes by not responding to random messages from unknown sources, the report states.
The ministry has explained that fraudulent individuals use various means, including WhatsApp, to send messages that make pleas for financial help and request for the money to be sent through exchange services. It has urged people to abstain from responding to messages from unknown sources and promptly inform the authorities concerned through the ministry’s social networking pages or contact the cyber crime investigation centre at [email protected]
Scam messages and e-mails also include those that tell people that they have won lotteries or make fake job offers. They also ask recipients to transfer a certain amount as fee to particular accounts. The objective is to dupe people into sending money to the fraudsters.
Further, the MoI has advised that people should regularly change the passwords of their e-mail IDs and other online tools and ignore messages that seek details such as bank account numbers, passwords or personal information, it adds.
13 school buildings to be delivered to SEC by September first week
Thirteen school buildings, which will be operated from the 2014-2015 academic year, will be delivered to the Supreme Education Council (SEC) beofre the schools open in September.
The council will also get 22 new schools from October until May 2015 in addition to three other schools to be delivered in September 2015. Further, it will enter into contracts to establish 17 new schools, which are expected to be ready in February 2016.
Nasser al-Malki, director of the SEC Shared Services Department, stressed that these dates and figures are based on the periodic report for educational projects issued recently by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal).
Regarding new kindergartens (KG), the SEC will receive six new buildings that will be operated from September. Then, until December, the council will receive and operate nine more new KG buildings. Besides, two KGs in the Al Shamal area will be handed over in May 2015.
Further, it is expected that the SEC will enter into contracts in September to set up six new KGs, to be delivered in October 2015.
Meanwhile, fresh designs for new schools are being implemented to accommodate more students. These designs are scheduled to be completed in January 2015.
Al-Malki pointed out that the department is doing its best to maintain the existing schools and equip them with the necessary facilities ahead of the new school year. It is also preparing contracts and tenders for the maintenance of these schools.
In addition, the council has conducted major maintenance work at some schools to ensure that they are suitable for use.
Earlier, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi, who is also the SEC secretary-general, had issued a decision to open, close and transfer some schools and assigned new buildings for KG classes to provide the country with better geographical distribution of educational services.