Some of the top diplomats in Qatar have lauded the government’s efforts to hurdle the challenges of the economic blockade by taking the higher ground to mitigate its impact on the people and national economy.

Portuguese ambassador Antonio Tanger said Qatar has managed “quite well the difficult circumstances originated by the blockade” by finding new trade partners and developing internal production, mainly in the area of food sustainability.

“Although economic ties between the Gulf countries were extremely important and interconnected, this crisis shows that the political and economic geometries can change not always for the worse,” Tanger told Gulf Times.

He added: “There is no doubt that the public and private sectors had to readjust their activities, cut some excessive spending, and redirect the focus of some of their productions.

“On the other hand, it will be essential that both sectors will enhance their management skills and observe better business practices, which, in the end, will be a very positive factor for the economic and social future of Qatar.”

While the economic blockade “came as a total surprise,” Swedish ambassador Ewa Polano said Qatar had handled the Gulf crisis “very well” and in a “balanced and wise way.”

“It has been impressive to follow the diplomatic, skilled way in which Qatar has managed the crisis. Qatari smart and skilled diplomacy is part of the Qatari success story during the last year and has impressed globally,” Polano said in a statement.

Also, Polano pointed out that the economic blockade had acted as a catalyst to accelerate the country’s efforts to diversify away from the hydrocarbon industry.

“The positive side of the crisis is that it speeded up the already ongoing paradigm shift in Qatar away from its oil and gas economy into a knowledge-based and diversified economy, with focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. I believe firmly that Qatar, because of the blockade, developed into a much stronger nation than it was before the crisis,” Polano stressed.

Similarly, Turkish ambassador Fikret Ozer emphasised that Qatar “has emerged much stronger” after the economic blockade was imposed on the country in June 2017.

He said Turkey will continue to support Qatar “across all sectors” similar to the backing it provided the country immediately after Saudi Arabia and its allies, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt cut air, sea, and land links to Qatar last year.

Ozer said Turkey quickly mobilised its resources to send essential goods, particularly food products, to address the needs of the local market. “We were able to help fill the gap in the Qatari market, and Turkey will continue to provide whatever support that Qatar needs,” he added.

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