Qatar is among the leading countries in the field of business continuity and institutional resilience, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) said during the ‘2nd Business Continuity and Resilience Conference’ held in Doha on Tuesday.

The conference reviewed the most successful practices in business continuity and resilience, providing the ideal solutions for building a strong private sector capable of participating effectively in the national economy and contributing to the sustainable development process.

Deputy Undersecretary for Trade Affairs Yahya bin Saeed al-Nuaimi, who spoke on behalf of HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, underscored Qatar’s economic growth amid regional and global challenges.

“The country has proved its great flexibility and ability to continue its growth despite the challenges that have taken place at the regional and global levels,” al-Nuaimi said during the event, which was also highlighted by the ‘BCI Qatar Awards’.

He said Qatar has sought to speed up the implementation of reforms for economic growth and the launching initiatives to enhance business continuity of companies and private sector institutions by supporting national products and developing local manufacturing companies by providing them with “advanced industrial zones.”

“The state has also been keen to develop the business environment and implement a number of decisions supporting local investors, reducing the import of goods by obliging all ministries and government agencies to increase the percentage of local products from 30% to 100% to stimulate national companies to increase their productivity and enhance the competitiveness of their industrial products in the markets,” al-Nuaimi said.

In his opening speech, conference president and Business Continuity Institute (BCI) Qatar Forum chairman Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei expressed hope that the current edition of the conference will establish a “new and serious dialogue” between the participating economic institutions.

Al-Yafei said risk management and business continuity has become an integral part of the policy of companies operating in Qatar, and the cornerstone on which these companies sustain their plans to continue and expand locally and internationally.

Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) board member Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal al-Thani said QBA is looking forward to sharing the views, ideas, and visions of officials, experts, specialists, business continuity and crisis management employees, and to address the potential risks to the companies.

He also emphasised the QBA’s optimism, saying that the conference will produce recommendations and results that benefit the business sector and contribute to enhancing its ability address any potential risks or crises.

The conference was also highlighted by the BCI Qatar Awards, which recognised five institutions for their achievements. In the ‘Continuity and Resilience Professional 2018’ category, the awards were given to Ooredoo (public sector) and Qatar Islamic Bank (private sector).

Also, Vodafone Qatar was honoured with the ‘Continuity and Resilience Most Effective Recovery 2018’ award, while Aaroh Smart Business Solutions was awarded ‘Continuity and Resilience Newcomer 2018’. Milaha Qatar Navigation received the ‘Continuity and Resilience Provider 2018’ award.

The conference was organised by Silah for Marketing and Exhibition with QBA as Strategic Partner, together with the Business Continuity Institute in UK, BCI Qatar Forum, and the Institute of Risk Management.

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