(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Qatar aims to increase the capacity of primary healthcare centres by 40 percent. The country will open six new hospitals in the near future as well as expand services offered in another 13, according to H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health.
Addressing a session on health, education and tourism at the Qatar-UK Business and Investment Forum, which kicked off in London on Monday, Dr Al Kuwari said the Ministry aims to provide the latest technology, treatment, information technology, and ambulance services for patients.
On death rates in car accidents in Qatar, the minister said it has dropped significantly and the government is working to put an end to the phenomenon.
Dr Al Kuwari said the ministry's vision is based on investing in human beings and technology, and developing the partnership between the public and private sectors to achieve the goal of improving the quality of services.
Meanwhile, H E Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment, announced that British companies are currently submitting proposals for tenders for projects estimated at £30bn, pointing out that Qatar will give an opportunity to British companies in a number of these investments. Al Rumaihi made the remarks at the conclusion of the first day of the Qatar-UK Business and Investment Forum.
Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said the carrier pays special attention to the UK market, and there are 72 weekly flights from Qatar to different airports across the United Kingdom, pointing to the huge investment steps the airline is taking in parallel with the expansion in infrastructure ahead of hosting the 2022 World Cup. The carrier is planning to attract more long-haul travellers and establish Doha as a stop in their trips. Al Baker called on UK investors to direct their investments to Qatar, especially in light of the mega projects currently underway in preparation of the 2022 World Cup and as part of implementing Qatar National Vision 2030.
Dr Hassan bin Rashid Al Derham, President, Qatar University, highlighted the expansion in the university, saying that 18,000 students are enrolled in nine different schools and 35 academic programmes, noting that Qatar University is the most growing university in research in the Middle East. On academic cooperation with the UK, Dr Al Derham pointed to a number of joint programmes, including double certificates from UK and Qatari universities at the same time.
Meanwhile, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Karen Bradley, said her country wants to help Qatar in staging the 2022 World Cup on a similar scale of the 2012 London Olympics. She added that her country was fully ready to intensify work with Qatar in order to transfer its expertise in organising major sporting events such as the 2012 Olympics in which the UK capital hosted 75,000 athletes at 34 sites.
Yesterday, the meetings of the forum resumed in Birmingham, with Liam Fox, UK Secretary of State for International Trade, stressing on the importance of the forum in light of the strong relations between the two countries that aimed at the prosperity of the citizens of Qatar and the United Kingdom.
He stressed that his department sets a priority to enhance and expand exporting sectors to the countries of the world, pointing out that the government provides full support to business leaders and commercial sectors in the field of export, stressing at the same time that 'Qatar is our partner to achieve all these goals we came to highlight today'.
Speaking at the event yesterday, Al Rumaihi highlighted that the efficient allocation of resources as well as the effective participation of the private sector are priorities in the national strategy 2017-2022". The minister pointed out that Qatar expects an increase of economic growth by 3.4 percent in 2017.
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