Qatar has "successfully" established direct commercial routes with a number of strategic hubs around the world and trade has been diverted to the country’s major trading partners since the blockade, said HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari.
He was delivering a lecture at the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q).
During the lecture, al-Kuwari highlighted the importance of diversification and self-sufficiency in the economic development of Qatar.
In his remarks, the minister noted that Qatar’s response to the blockade of June 2017 has resulted in “significant, positive changes” to the economy.
“The blockade was a good thing for Qatar. We have achieved so much that we would not have achieved without it.”
“Over the past two years, Qatar’s total exports and foreign trade have witnessed noticeable growth, while food production and local manufacturing have drastically increased. Qatar has successfully adopted many food security initiatives that move the country toward self-sufficiency.”
The minister discussed the initiatives that will foster a favourable business climate within Qatar and encourage international trade. He praised Qatar’s logistics capabilities, noting how well several industries have relied on Hamad International Airport and Hamad Port to manage a sudden spike in the inflow of goods to the country.
“Qatar has successfully established direct commercial routes with a number of strategic hubs around the world and, since the blockade, trade has been diverted to our major trading partners,” the minister noted.
Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, said, “It is so important that our students hear directly from the minister the ways the Qatar business community has adapted in the wake of the 2017 blockade. We have many aspiring business leaders studying here, and the minister succinctly outlined how industry can thrive in times of adversity.”
The minister’s talk was the first ‘Dean’s Lecture Series’ for the academic year 2019-20. Now in its ninth year, CMU-Q’s Dean’s Lecture Series features industry leaders, government officials and members of the business community who share their expertise on relevant and topical issues.