HH The Amir Chairs Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment's First Meeting of 2020

His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment, presided over the council's first meeting of 2020 that took place at the Amiri Diwan.

His Highness The Deputy Amir HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, the Deputy Chairman of the Council, attended the meeting along with HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Executive Member of the Council, and Their Excellencies the members of the Council.

The Council discussed topics on the meeting agenda and took the appropriate measures regarding them.

The council discussed the latest developments of energy and investment affairs. It then reviewed the national food security strategy and the ways to support its most important factors. A presentation on the strategy reviewed the most important projects for increasing local production of vegetables, cattle, and fish. It also outlined the plans and stages for increasing the country's strategic supply of food. The presentation touched on the role international trade can play as a pillar of food security. It also discussed the local market, and programs that looks to provide a marketing outlet for agricultural produce.

The council then discussed the latest developments of the free zones, where a number of the world's biggest companies started joining. Projects worth a total of QR 3 billion have also been approved, compared to only QR 1 billion last August. The majority of these projects focus on the new economy, internet of things, sustainability, IT, big data, communications, transport, logistics, medical services, aviation, cyberspace, and agritech.

The council lastly discussed a draft strategic partnership between Qatar Free Zones Authority and Qatar Petroleum. The partnership aims to unite efforts in attracting major companies in the energy, chemicals, and clean energy sectors.