*PM unveils 2nd National Development Strategy 2018-22
*Building of human and institutional capacities highlighted
*Stimulation of private sector, promotion of R&D stressed

Qatar on Wednesday unveiled its second five-year national development strategy, amidst continuing economic blockade, focusing on building human and institutional capacities, developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem and promoting research and development as part of efforts to achieve sustainable development and self-sufficiency.

Launching the 333-page second National Development Strategy 2018-22, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said to achieve success and reach the goals of second NDS, "we must direct investments to meet the requirements of sustainable development, continuously build human and institutional capacities, attract and retain high-skilled and productive labour force, support and develop entrepreneurial capabilities and promote research and development, inventions and creativity".

The ceremony was attended by several ambassadors, ministers, officials in governmental and non-governmental sectors which are part of the strategy.

The premier said the first national strategy had a positive impact and a rich planning experience at the national level, has achieved multiple achievements.

HE Sheikh Abdullah emphasised sustainability as a principle in national development initiatives that stimulated important policy innovations, such as the development of a road map to modernise the budget and the comprehensive development national health policy, restructuring of the educational system, management of public investment, stimulation of the private sector and reform of the policy government support and guidance to target groups, rationalisation of public expenditure and conservation and development of natural resources.

One of the biggest challenges is creating conducive conditions in which private sector activity can play a more active role in economic development and this issue has received renewed attention in the second NDS.

Elaborating on the new strategy, HE Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit, Minister of Development Planning and Statistics, said it requires all government agencies to prepare their strategic and executive plans that are consistent with the second NDS and that can achieve their results within the specified time frame.

“The national development priorities are the same priorities of the ministries and government agencies. The interaction and partnership between the public and private sector needs to be increased and the role of civil society organisations in the implementation of this strategy needs to be expanded,” he said.

As part of this wider reform effort, the second NDS sought to identify the aggregate resource envelope within which national development efforts will have to proceed through to 2022, and the strategic considerations that ought to influence the allocation of those resources.

The MDPS led the comprehensive preparation process through the supervisory group – the highest authority in the governance structure of strategy preparation – chaired by al-Nabit and supported by relevant task forces.

The task forces reviewed the priorities in the first NDS and the proposal for the sectoral development priorities. It also monitored the works and output of sectoral task forces, reviewed the draft of second NDS and endorsed the recommendations therein.

3% economic growth expected in 2018

HE the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit expected that Qatar's economy to grow between 2 and 3% in 2018, while the non-oil sector is expected to achieve good growth rates, which are important growth rates under the current conditions in Qatar.

This came in a press conference on the sidelines of the launch of Qatar's 2nd National Development Strategy (NDS2) 2018-2022. HE al-Nabit praised the role of the governmental and non-governmental bodies that participated in drawing up NDS2, which was formed following the efforts of a team of about 150 people united in the endeavour, the goal, and the methodology.