Emir issues instruments of ratificationHH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday issued the following instruments of ratification:1. Approving an agreement on Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between Qatar and Tajikistan, signed in Dushanbe on August 25, 2011. 2. Approving an agreement for cultural co-operation, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for health co-operation and an agreement on hiring Thai workers in Qatar, signed between the governments of Qatar and Thailand in Doha on May 15, 2012. 3. Approving an agreement exempting holders of diplomatic passports, service passports and the private passports from entry requirements between Qatar and Italy, signed in Rome on April 16, 2012. 4. Approving a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between Qatar and Bulgaria, signed in Sofia on May 17, 2012. 5. Approving an agreement for economic, trade and technical co-operation and an agreement on Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between Qatar and East Timor, signed in Doha on January 21, 2012. 6. Approving a draft MoU on the establishment of a mechanism for consultation on issues of common interest between Qatar’s Foreign Ministry and Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed in Doha on October 8, 2012. 7. Approving a draft agreement between the governments of Qatar and the Cayman Islands on the exchange of information on tax matters, signed in George Town on October 26, 2012. National Day greetings sentHH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani have sent congratulatory cables to the Emperor of Japan on the occasion of his country’s National Day. Finance ministry holds seminarThe Ministry of Economy and Finance held a seminar yesterday to discuss the new structure for the executive list of the bids and tenders law and its regulating draft law in presence of a number of officials. Director of the Strategic Planning and Performance Management Office Badr, and Acting Director of the Economic Policies Department at the Ministry, Ahmad al-Qayed said that the development project comes as part of the ministry’s keenness to achieve its goal in accordance to the National Development Strategy. He noted that the ministry is keen to take advantage of others’ views and proposals in the development process and the services provided by the ministry.Qatar, Tajikistan ties discussedHE the Minister of State for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, met the visiting Minister of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan, Lieutenant Ramadan Rahimon. Talks during the meeting dealt with aspects of co-operation between the two countries and issues of mutual concern.