Last month, I had the privilege of attending the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum (QEF) in Doha, which took place from 23-25 May 2023 and is fast gaining recognition as an important global economic summit. The forum proved to be a meeting point not only for Qatar’s booming economy but also for business leaders, decision makers and economists from around the world to discuss, collaborate and innovate. In this article, I will share my impressions of the highly successful forum, which I believe will grow in importance in the coming years. Supported by Bloomberg, which delivers business and financial information, news and insights to audiences and connects decision-makers with a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. QEF is a thought leadership platform that brings together respected economists, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers from around the world to share and discuss innovative ideas and potential strategies for economic development.
The forum, which was organized for the third time this year, was attended by H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; H.E. Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary; H.E. Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia; H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Bin Laden, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar; and H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Laden, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar. E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana and H.E. Mario Abdo Benítez, President of Paraguay. Last year’s forum was attended by more than 75 speakers, including prominent business leaders such as Tesla founder Elon Musk, Total Energies President and CEO Patrick Pouyanne, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden, and Vera Songwe, Secretary-General of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The main theme of this year’s forum, which will be supported by Bloomberg for the next 10 years, was the integration of economies and sectors across borders. While last year’s forum focused on digital transformation and the post-pandemic economic landscape, this year the emphasis was on the role of the global community in building a more resilient and inclusive
future economy.
Global shift in environmental responsibility
Thanks to its natural resources and strategic location, Qatar has managed to position itself as the economic powerhouse of the Middle East. The Qatari government’s vision and strategic plans to diversify its economy to move beyond oil and gas, as set out in the National Vision 2030, was a recurring theme throughout the forum. Discussions on sustainable development and renewable energy not only reflected Qatar’s ambition to become a leader in sustainable energy, but also emphasized a far-reaching global shift towards environmental responsibility.
Cooperation in the global economy
One of the highlights of the forum was the importance of cooperation in the global economy. The global economic recovery after the pandemic has not been equal for all countries. I believe that the discussions that took place at the forum on how countries can support each other in the recovery process were eye-opening for all participants.
In addition, the importance of the digital economy was once again emphasized at the forum, underlining the need for businesses to adapt to this ever-evolving technological environment. In the parallel sessions of the forum, pioneering technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and quantum computing were discussed and their importance for the future was emphasized.
As a result…
We are living through a period of increasing economic, ecological and geopolitical risks, and government and private sector leaders who are aware of these risks need to take the right steps to address these challenges in a collaborative and timely manner. The Forum was proof that collective action and thought leadership can foster productive dialog and lead to concrete economic strategies.
The 3rd Qatar Economic Forum was a beacon of hope and progress. Each year, the Forum gains global significance as it brings together world leaders, innovators and changemakers. With its growing importance, I am confident that the Qatar Economic Forum will continue to play an important role in shaping the global economic debate in the future. Events like this are more than just gatherings of ideas – they are platforms for shaping the future.
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