(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Chamber (QC) Chairman sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani presided over the Chamber's second General Assembly Meeting (GAM) held yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the presence of QC board members, the general manager and a crowd of businessmen and QC members.
The elections of a new board of directors for the seventh council (2023-2028) took place during the GAM. All insurance, banking, services, tourism, and agriculture candidates won by acclamation. They are Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al Thani, representing the insurance sector, Rashid bin Nasser Al Kaabi (banking), Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani (services), Sheikh Hamad bin Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Thani (tourism), and Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari (agriculture).
The voting process took place in the sectors of trade, contacting and industry. Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee for the Qatar Chamber Elections Mohamed bin Hassan Al Malki announced the winners.
The trade sector included eight candidates who competed for five seats. Winners are Mohamed Mahdi Ajian Al Ahbabi, Rashid Hamad Hazaa Hamad Al Athba, Khalid Klefeekh Khalid Al Hajri, Mohamed Jawhar Saeed Mohamed Al Mohamed, and Abdulrahman Abduljalil Abdulghani Al Abdulghani.
The industry sector has six candidates competed for three seats. Winners are Abdullah Mohamed Abdul Rahim al-Emadi, Abdulrahman Abdullah Ibrahim Al Ansari, and Fahd Mohamed Fahd Buzwair.
In the contracting sector, four candidates were declared winners - Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al Obaidli, Nasser Sulaiman Haidar Al Haidar, Shaheen Mohamed Lahdan Al Mohannadi, and Ali Abdullatif Al Misnad.
The new board of directors will hold a meeting soon to elect the Chairman and his Vice-Chairmen. The meeting's agenda reviewed the board of directors' report on the chamber's activities and financial status for 2022.
It also discussed and approved the auditor's report on the chamber's budget, final accounts, and the statement of revenues and expenses for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.
It also included discharging members of the board of directors and approving the estimated budget for the fiscal year 2023, in addition to appointing a new auditor for the fiscal year 2023.
The number of attendees reached 17622 members, including 5349 in person, while 12273 members by proxy, representing 24.1 percent of the total number of members, totalling 73148 members.
Addressing the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani said that the Chamber last year continued its efforts to support and develop the business sector in the country and to encourage investment and facilitate its growth, in addition to promoting the national economy and the state's investment climate.
During the last year, the Chamber adopted a number of important initiatives that are advantageous to the private sector and helps in its development and growth, he said, adding that it joined the United Nations Global Compact – the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative.
To promote the national economy, Sheikh Khalifa said the Chamber last year launched the 'Qatar Economic & Commercial Activities Guide 2022' which included information about the state's economy and investment climate and steps for doing business in Qatar, in addition to the most prominent laws and legislation that govern the investment process in the state.
QC Chairman reviewed the accomplishments made by the board of directors during the sixth council 2018-2023, noting that the Chamber continued to play its leading role in protecting and representing the interests of the private sector and enabling it to play its hopeful role in economic activity.
In line with the state's economic boom, he pointed out that the Chamber continued to equip its new headquarters on the“Boulevard” in Lusail to match the services provided by the Chamber to the private sector, noting that the transfer to the new building is expected to take place soon to coincide with the new board of directors for the seventh council.
Concluding his speech, Sheikh Khalifa expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and H E the Prime Minister for their continuous support to the private sector, praising the interest of H H the Amir to enable the private sector to accomplish its desirable role in economic development and being a genuine partner to the public sector and a key drive in the state's economic boon in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.