The second National Development Strategy (NDS) 2017-2022, currently under preparation, should take into account ways to develop the business environment in order to stimulate the participation of the private sector and direct it towards high-efficiency sectors, HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said yesterday.
Addressing a ministerial meeting on a draft of the NDS 2017-2022, he stressed  the need for ensuring coherence and compatibility between the proposed programmes and projects on the one hand and the general plans for government projects on the other, pointing to the need for focusing all efforts to support sustainability projects and realise Qatar National Vision 2030.
“Local and foreign investment should be encouraged through the development of an integrated legislative framework and bridging some legal gaps, in addition to the development of a clear legislative framework for the private sector’s participation in development projects, including the law on build-operate-transfer contracts,” HE Sheikh Abdullah urged.
He instructed to expedite the development of infrastructure in the industrial and logistics zones to support the diversification of the economic activity of small and medium enterprises and support the transition to a knowledge-based economy by focusing on the development of education and training to increase the efficiency and skills of Qatari nationals.
The Prime Minister directed that the draft of the NDS 2017-2022 be made available for community dialogue by involving the private sector and civil society organisations and citizens with special expertise.
He stressed the need to focus on the efficiency of public spending and the application of the principle of cost-effectiveness in all programmes and projects included in the NDS 2017-2022.
HE Sheikh Abdullah also gave directives that all ministries and other government departments should prepare their medium-term strategic plans and annual outcome plans that work towards the implementation of the outcomes and targets of the NDS.
He stressed the need to expedite the work on raising the competency of government performance to keep pace with the changes and updates in the country. Accordingly, the e-government projects should be accomplished quickly, and the largest possible number of services transferred into the electronic system to help accomplish transactions quickly.
He pointed out that it is important to benefit from the experiences of other countries that have prepared similar strategies, and review the solutions devised by them to overcome the challenges and hurdles throughout the various phases of implementation.
The Prime Minister concluded his address to the participating ministers and officials by affirming the importance of devising a clear and comprehensive national framework for the follow-up of the process of the NDS 2017-2022 implementation.
“This should include a uninterrupted chain of regular reporting on all supervisory levels in the country, aiming at attaining an effective implementation of the strategy, and finding quick solutions for hurdles as they arise. This also involves a clear specification of the role and responsibilities and the basis of accountability in case of any shortcoming.
HE the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit gave a presentation during the meeting on the main steps taken by his ministry recently to evaluate the first NDS, how to build on its achievements, and avoid shortcomings. He also reviewed the phases of the preparation of NSD 2017-2022 in co-operation with various entities in the country.
HE the economic adviser at the Emiri Diwan, Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim, made a presentation on the challenges and trends for the NDS 2017-2022 and the implementation mechanisms. He elaborated on the appropriate means to address the current economic and financial situation of the state in light of the low oil prices. He also addressed the issue of demographics, workforce, labour productivity and issues related to expat labourers and how to address them.
World Bank experts presented their views and proposals about the draft strategy and a review of the experiences of some countries which prepared similar strategies.
The meeting aimed at learning about the progress made in the preparation of the second NDS 2017-2022 and discussing and defining the national development priorities and challenges as well as identifying the final objectives of the strategy. Page 11