Doha: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stressed that the priority of Qatar from the first day in confronting the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was to work to ensure the health and safety of all citizens and residents and to coordinate the facilitation of response, adding that Qatar provides health care capabilities and services for all while maintaining its economic status.
This came during the hosting of the Minister on Wednesday in the "COVID Action Platform" at the World Economic Forum under the title" how to defeat the epidemic and protect livelihoods worldwide", which was opened by President of World Economic Forum Borge Brende, with the participation of several government officials, chief executives, and heads of humanitarian organizations.
HE the Foreign Minister called on the international community to cooperate and stand together in facing the economic consequences of the pandemic, whether it is a decrease in oil prices or a possible economic recession. He said that the objective conditions indicate that the next stage will not be easy in economic and financial terms for the countries that deal with the global economy.
In this regard, the Minister referred to the invitation of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent, in a speech this week to the heads of countries of the world, especially the major industrialized countries and relevant international organizations, to cooperate and not compete in discovering and producing vaccines and disease treatments, and it would not be possible to face the economic and social consequences of the pandemic without cooperation and coordination worldwide and at the highest and broadest levels.
He noted Qatar's pioneering experience in facing COVID-19 and the measures taken to protect society, support businesses, and boost the economy through the stimulus packages that the Qatari government provides to the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) community.
HE the Foreign Minister said that Qatar's proactive approach saw unparalleled measures are taken to protect the society, support businesses, and boost the economy, stressing that through stimulus packages the government of the State of Qatar provides an unprecedented financial response to the SMEs community in Qatar.
Responding to a question about how the Qatari procedures are integrated into the long term in the broad fields of international cooperation, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani noted Qatar's programs abroad and its cooperation with resources, development, and innovation in the United Nations Development Program.
HE the Foreign Minister said that the Qatari production has increased as new factories for the manufacture of personal protective equipment have been set up and today Qatar produces eight million masks every week. He added that the state opened a ventilators factory, which in the first stage will produce 2,000 devices per week, to contribute to providing the adequate need of the respiratory devices for the treatment of people with the novel coronavirus in Qatar and abroad.
His Excellency stressed that the State of Qatar's vision for the future is formed by its belief in strong teamwork and coordination to move forward, adding that Qatar is aware of the diversity of the capabilities of the markets in the face of the pandemic, yet it considers that such condition as an opportunity and not a setback for active and smart investment approaches.
