His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's appreciation of the role played by the private sector in Qatar places great responsibility on those responsible for this sector who should continue work to enhance its role in the economic and investment process and encourage businessmen to increase investment in industrial projects needed by the local market, said HE the Chairman of Qatar Chamber (QC), Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani.

He praised the Amir's speech at the opening of the 47th session of the Advisory Council yesterday, in which His Highness affirmed the immunity of Qatar's economy from external shocks and its increased self-reliance, and that it has overcome the effects of the siege.

The QC chairman hailed the Amir's remarks on the pivotal role played by the private sector in the development of the industrial sector and in achieving a great deal of self-sufficiency in some food products and some consumer necessities as the number of factories operating in the country increased after the siege by 14%, calling on the private sector to develop its direct investment and to pursue bolder initiatives.

He lauded what the Amir said regarding Qatar's ability to develop relations with most of the world's countries despite the siege, as its ties with its allies became more established than they were, and as the Qatari citizens' adherence to their morals and their awareness of national sovereignty and the independence of their political decision increased.

All the indicators mentioned by His Highness the Amir regarding the Qatari economy's performance confirm that Qatar was able to overcome the effects of the siege, the QC chairman said, noting that the future holds further development and prosperity for Qatar, especially when the country is moving steadily to achieve water and food security and secure enough electrical energy to advance development and meet its requirements.

HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani said that the dominance of economic issues in the main part of the speech reflects the Amir's keenness to develop the national economy in all its sectors, pointing out that the Amir stressed the state's efforts in proceeding with the plans of economic diversification and reducing dependence on oil and gas, but without neglecting the private sector which is the main source of wealth, as economic diversification aims to achieve growth without being affected by changes in the prices of these two sources, while constantly developing them.

The QC chairman pointed to the Amir's keenness on the development of the human being and ensuring high standard of living for the citizens as His Highness stressed in the speech that human being remains the subject and goal of development plans.

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