In its regular weekly session on Oct. 28, the Shura Council unanimously approved the proposed constitutional amendments and forwarded them to HH the Amir, following a review of the report from the special committee tasked with studying amendments to certain provisions of the constitution. The session featured constructive and in-depth discussions, reflecting the members' commitment to strengthening national unity, upholding the principles of justice and the rule of law, and ensuring the nation's supreme interests, in line with the directives of HH the Amir.
Upon completion of the voting and the tallying of votes, HE Minister of Interior and Chairperson of the General Referendum Committee, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, announced that the proposed constitutional amendments had received 90.6% approval from the total valid votes cast.
On Dec. 12, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, issued a decree approving the general state budget for the fiscal year 2025, with HE Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari announcing that the total projected revenues for the State of Qatar's 2025 budget amount to QR 197 billion, reflecting a decrease of 2.5%, compared to the total revenues of the 2024 fiscal budget.
Regarding the total expenditures, His Excellency stated that they amount to QR 210.2 billion, marking an increase of 4.6% over 2024, emphasizing that the allocations for the health and education sectors reached QR 41.4 billion, representing 20% of the overall budget. This allocation underscores Qatars unwavering commitment to human capital development policies and boosting the quality of public services.
In addition, necessary financial resources have been designated for strategic sectors, including trade and industry, research and innovation, tourism, digital transformation, and information technology, to back efforts aimed at diversifying the economy and achieving sustainable development. Furthermore, the provision for salaries and wages in the 2025 budget has been increased by 5.5% over 2024, totaling QR 67.5 billion, whilst the budget for major capital expenditures has seen a modest increase of 1.4% to ensure the consistent implementation of strategic and developmental projects.
Throughout the year, and in alignment with the nations economic priorities, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment, chaired four meetings of the Council, which were convened at the Amiri Diwan.
In October, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani enjoined the Cabinet to issue instructions for the preparation and implementation of a comprehensive package of economic initiatives aimed at supporting the private sector and fostering its participation in the national economy.
These initiatives included the forgiveness of outstanding loans for Qatari firms that benefited from the national guarantees program, which was designed to assist the private sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, new initiatives were introduced to provide short-term financing for working capital to those Qatari firms that had previously benefited from the aforementioned program. The Cabinets statement confirmed that this royal initiative was intended to support private sector firms in addressing the economic repercussions stemming from the measures implemented to combat the spread of the pandemic.
Last June, HE Minister of Municipality, Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, issued a ministerial decision to reduce the rental value of land in the industrial zones under the Ministry's jurisdiction, in pursuit of fostering the growth of the national economy, bolstering the private sector's role in economic diversification, and contributing to the ongoing development trajectory of the nation.
In September, HH the Amir promulgated a law concerning the localization of employment within the private sector, elevating the efforts to attract a talented national workforce to the private sector, and expanding the opportunities for enhancing the competencies of the national workforce, while encouraging the private sector to absorb and nurture national talent.
In November, under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thanis, HE Minister of Labor Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, inaugurated the National Strategy for an Effective and Highly Productive Workforce 2024-2030, emphasizing that this new strategy intends to increase the Qatari nationals engagement in the labor market by empowering and qualifying them, particularly within the private sector. The strategy seeks to enhance the ability to attract skilled labor while ensuring the protection of their rights, in addition to driving increased productivity, stimulating innovation, and optimizing efficiency across various sectors, as well as bolstering performance and productivity of workers in the public sector.
The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) launched its strategic plan for 2024-2030, in observance of Qatar's Human Rights Day, which falls annually on Nov. 11. The event was held under the theme of human rights: a sustained force toward a better future.
Last May, HH the Amir issued an Amiri decree establishing the National Planning Council, with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers clarifying that the decree ushered in a new era in the strategic and developmental planning of the state, positioning the country to better align with the ongoing developmental renaissance across multiple sectors.
Last January, the State of Qatar launched its third National Development Strategy for 2024-2030, marking the final phase on the path toward achieving the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which was unveiled in 2008. The strategy, in question, is dedicated to ensuring steadfast preparedness to surmount emerging challenges while steering Qatar toward becoming one of the worlds leading nations by 2030, in addition to achieving the sustainable development and ensuring a high quality of life for all citizens and future generations.
The new strategy will prioritize enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation, and supporting institutional excellence, while striving to balance sustainable growth with social cohesion, in line with national outcomes. (MORE)