Qatar exempts 86% of industrial activities from environmental permits requirement

Qatar’s environmental permits system simplified to foster business ecosystem while complying with regulationsQatar has simplified environmental permits for industrial facilities, exempting 86% of the industrial activities from the need of environmental permits.The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) jointly launched the new initiative, as part of efforts to foster the business ecosystem and facilitate industrial activities, while complying with environmental regulations.Through this initiative, as many as 861 industrial activities are exempted from environmental permits, and grants operating permits upon the completion of factory construction, benefiting investors in 66% of all industrial activities.As many as 257 industrial activities will be exempt from environmental and operational permits, benefiting 20% of all industrial activities. Only 182 industrial activities, accounting for 14% of industrial activities, will need prior environmental permission.Saleh Majid al-Khulaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industry and Business Development at MoCI, stressed that the initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to foster the business environment and facilitate the practice of industrial activities, by reducing administrative burdens, while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations."The initiative will accelerate the issuance of permits, enhance the sector’s competitiveness, and contribute to national development goals,” he said.Abdul Hadi Nasser al-Marri, Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs at the MECC, said the procedure of granting environmental permits for industrial activities was reviewed and simplified to support responsible investments that observe environmental requirements while pursuing business development."This initiative reflects our keenness to adopt international best practices to ensure shorter processes and less requirements for investors,” he said.This step enhances the ministry’s contribution to Qatar National Vision 2030, by creating an attractive investment climate that satisfies the principles of environmental sustainability and protection, according to him.The two ministries will continue co-ordination to improve procedures and lend necessary support to investors to ensure compatibility of business activities with environmental requirements.