Investment professionals, financiers and economists gathered at The St Regis Doha for the opening of the Euromoney Qatar Conference yesterday. 
The two-day event, being held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani will be focusing on the post-blockade strategy for Qatar and its development as a sustainable economy. 
A ‘Breakfast Workshop’ took place prior to the official launch, discussing the global macro-political outlook of Qatar’s economy. 
HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi took to the stage for the official opening and commented on the performance of the Qatari economy post the blockade.
Day one of the conference saw a series of keynote interviews and addresses given by senior government officials, academics and financiers. 
QNB acting chief executive officer Abdulla Mubarak al-Khalifa; Philippe Legrain, a critically acclaimed thinker and communicator with high-level policy experience; and Commercial Bank Group CEO Joseph Abraham participated in the keynote sessions.
The day ended with a panel entitled “Qatar’s Economy – New direction, New opportunities” that debated Qatar’s economy post blockade; the road to 2022; the future of Qatar’s natural resources; diversification and much more.
HE the Qatar Central Bank Governor Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud al-Thani spoke before the conference about Qatar’s economy after the blockade. He said, “Around one and a half years now since the blockade and we have returned to a ‘business-as-usual’ mode in every aspect of our economy. There was no disruption in provisioning of financial services at any point following the blockade, and the response of the financial sector is praiseworthy.” 
Today’s sessions will be opened by Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud and will also feature a number of thematic panels discussing Qatar’s wealth management, the future of financial services in the country and sustainable finance. 
This year’s Euromoney Conference was sponsored by QNB as senior lead sponsor; Commercial Bank as lead sponsor; Qatar Development Bank as co-sponsor, and CFA Society, Qatar Finance and Business Academy and QIIB as exhibitors.
On the first day of the conference, Victoria Behn, director, Middle East and Africa, Euromoney Conferences said, “We are pleased with the turnout and level of engagement from the private and public sector. Pertinent issues relating to Qatar’s economy and its financial sector were discussed making Euromoney Conference Qatar an important meeting point for senior government officials, financial institutions, investors, and Qatari companies to convene and network around capital markets and finance.”