QNA/Doha

HE the Minister of Economy and Trade, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani, has presented a number of projects and initiatives which are being implemented to encourage the private sector in the country and prepare a conducive business environment to ensure productivity and competitiveness.
Addressing yesterday’s Cabinet session, which was presided over by HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani,  the Minister for Economy and trade pointed out the major challenges facing the private sector compared to the overall growth of the State’s economy, including impediments hampering business establishments and tenders and procurements policy, requirements from warehouses, economic lands and commercial stores and buildings.
He explained that the solutions, which are being effectively implemented through a number of initiatives, include development of economic zones projects, raising logistic competence to meet the market’s current requirements, and low-cost warehouses initiatives.
Besides these, he said, the State’s Al Firjan initiative will provide citizens with consumption services on the one hand and contribute to lowering rents on the other, along with many other schemes, including the opening of new commercial streets, a plan for building and operating housing units for workers and submitting them for the private sector.
The Minister explained the goal of the State’s comprehensive logistic study, date for its completion and identifying the government’s role and aspects of partnership with the private sector.
Earlier, the Cabinet approved a draft law exempting some commodities from customs fees and referred it to the Advisory Council.
As per the provisions of the draft law, some of the commodities used by persons with disability and imported for governmental parties concerned with caring for persons with disability or societies licenced to care for them or special needs people who are GCC nationals and require such items for personal use, have been exempted from customs fees.
The cabinet also approved the proposal of HE the Minister of Justice to form an ad hoc committee for the lawyers’ registration or acceptance.
It also approved the proposal of the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning to  extend the leasing contracts of some places and locations’ rent for non-residential purposes for a year as of 15/02/2014.
The extension excludes the administrative headquarters of commercial companies and others including the legal persons engaged in trade activities, the offices of lawyers, accountants, and engineers, the clinics of veterinarians and offices of experts in agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
The Cabinet then approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ictQATAR) for forming a joint panel for communications infrastructure.  
Such a panel will be formed under the chairmanship of a representative of the (ictQATAR) and membership of other representatives of the parties concerned.   
The Cabinet then reviewed the following two topics and took the appropriate decision:
a- A letter by the Minister of Economy and Trade on the outcome of the 29th session of the Permanent Committee for Economic and Trade Co-operation of the Organisation of the Islamic Co-operation , held in Turkey in November 2013.
b-  A letter by Chairman of the Complaints Committee of Qatar Financial Markets Authority for the period from January-June 2013.
This committee was set up by Qatar Financial Markets Authority under the chairmanship of one of the heads of the Court of Appeal, membership of two judges from the Court of Appeal and two experts in the field of financial exchanges to rule on complaints against the penal procedures issued by the Authority.