During his address, Sheikh Mohammed noted that “economic growth and political stability are intertwined”.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani opened the fifth Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday with a sharp condemnation of Israel’s continued genocide in Gaza. In his remarks, he denounced the ongoing brutality and warned that such actions are eroding any remaining prospects for peace.
“The unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza is still ongoing, despite the efforts of the State of Qatar, Egypt, the U.S. and despite the efforts that we are exerting, we are still witnessing how the opportunities to de-escalate are going to waste,” Sheikh Mohammed told the Forum.
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated the fifth Qatar Economic Forum, a major gathering of global officials, CEOs, and entrepreneurs. The three-day event at Doha’s Raffles Fairmont Hotel comes at a pivotal moment for Qatar, as it plays a key mediating role in the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.
Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came a week after Hamas released Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, one of around 251 people captured on October 7, 2023.
The mediators hoped the move would pave the way for a breakthrough in the stalled Hamas-Israel talks, although it was followed with intensified Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
“The retaliation was further raids that led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent people. This irresponsible attack is undermining any chance of peace. Yet we are committed to continue our diplomatic efforts with our partners to put an end to this war,” Sheikh Mohammed noted.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed more than 61,700 people in the Gaza Strip, according to a revised figure by the local health ministry. However, the figure is believed to be significantly higher with thousands trapped under the rubble and as Israel persists in its bombardment of the territory.
Sheikh Mohammed also highlighted other key regional developments, including the U.S. decision to lift its sanctions on Syria during President Donald Trump’s regional visit last week. The decision came five months after the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024.
“This is a clear message to the region and the world that the priority must be to give a real, complete opportunity for people getting out of conflicts in order for them to build better futures,” he added.
Economy and political stability
During his address, Sheikh Mohammed noted that “economic growth and political stability are intertwined”.
“You cannot achieve one without the other. Based on this, the State of Qatar adopts an efficient diplomatic approach based on productive work in order to solve conflicts knowing that peace is essential for any sustainable development,” Sheikh Mohammed noted.
“We believe that every diplomatic effort exerted is an investment in a safer and more stable future,” he added.
Qatar’s economic diversification
Qatar’s economic diversification efforts was among the key points in Sheikh Mohammed’s address.
“We look towards a diversified economy based on knowledge and innovation, accompanying the technological advancements, and we aspire to have Qatar a worldwide centre for investment for business based on trust and confidence,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Qatar was among the most important destinations for Trump’s Gulf tour, which witnessed the signing of major deals, most notably the purchase agreement for 210 jets worth $96bn (around QAR 350.15bn) between Qatar Airways and Boeing.
The deal marked the plane-manufacturer’s largest ever order.
The White House pointed out that the deals are set to generate $1.2 trillion (around QAR 4.36 trillion) in Doha and Washington’s economic exchange.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) revealed that the Gulf state attracted $2.74bn (around QAR 9.99bn) in foreign direct investment (FDI) during 2024.
Sheikh Mohammed announced during his speech the launch of the first programme of motives for investors that is targeting strategic sectors, including production, advanced technology, and logistics.
The Qatari prime minister also stressed that Qatar seeks a mixture of diplomacy and economic growth that is human-focused.
“We look for a mix of diplomacy, growth and we look forward to focusing on human dignity,” Sheikh Mohammed said as he concluded his address.
