Jose Benzaquen Perea
Ambassador of Peru
It is well known that an international forum is a meeting or space where dialogue is held, ideas are presented, questions are formulated, and topics of common interest are freely debated to reach objectives for the benefit of a regional or world community.
The importance of the participation of heads of state and government, and other high-ranking public and private officials, ensures that these meetings are tangible for the advancement and common benefit, such as the Qatar Economic Forum.
In the years that I have been in this country, I have been able to observe international admiration for Qatar as a driving example on the international agenda for meetings of heads of state and government as well as state ministers and experts in various fields of progress, especially in the economic development of nations.
This role that generates relations between states is strengthened, especially, by Qatar’s strategic location between the continents of Asia and Africa, among others, as well as being considered a world diplomatic centre and leader in energy technologies.
In this way, these forums fulfil a role of relating common interests, both regionally and internationally, and are necessary to transmit the needs of the countries in their collective proposals.
The heads of state and government that promote these international meetings do so armed with qualified teams of professionals, experts in certain fields of development, and assisted by previously planned and studied logistics since the displacements of renowned guests entail an interest and need to achieve consensus on issues for the benefit of global society.
From May 23-25, we were invited to the Qatar Economic Forum, under the motto “A new global growth story”, which was chaired by His highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who had the opportunity to dialogue with leaders from Rwanda, Paraguay, Armenia, Ghana, Zanzibar; prime ministers of Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Hungary, among ministers from numerous countries; basically to exchange ideas about the global economy.
We had the opportunity to observe diplomacy from a developed country, an organising committee led by HE Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, with the collaboration of Bloomberg, which met the projected expectations.
Among the proposals and solutions presented by the participants, it is worth noting the ideas expressed by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, who said that “after presenting the best version of the FIFA World Cup at all levels for the first time in an Arab country, we are making progress in strengthening Qatar’s position as a reliable international partner, a source of energy, and a destination for investment and tourism.”
The Qatar Economic Forum, with a focus on the major economic issues facing international CEOs, heads of state, and currency markets, provided new and unique perspectives on the issues raised, while warning of a possible future situation of overall recession.
We must highlight the important participation of more than 100 countries, entrepreneurs, innovators, and important international companies as well as distinguished moderators who were in charge of directing the interventions of the participants on topics of their own knowledge, study and research.
Obviously, the agreements reached should enrich the humanist goal in which economic development is compatible with legislative measures that benefit societies; therefore, help to achieve personal and collective well-being.
Undoubtedly, Qatar will continue to co-operate with the international community as we can see in the worldwide gestures and acts that it permanently carries out.