Huge investments made for future of Qatar: Minister

World Cup was only one month, and nobody would do a huge investment or prepare only for one month. So what we have been doing with the investment, we have been doing infrastructure and the setup there it’s for Qatar. It’s for the future of Qatar. And it is about our diversification journey” — HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari

MINISTER of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari has reiterated that the huge investments done in the country in the run up to the FIFA World Cup are for the future.

In an interview with CNN’s Richard Quest at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Al Kuwari discussed what’s next for the country after the success of the World Cup.

“World Cup was only one month, and nobody would do a huge investment or prepare only for one month. So what we have been doing with the investment, we have been doing infrastructure and the setup there it’s for Qatar. It’s for the future of Qatar. And it is about our diversification journey.”

On whether social changes in Qatar will continue following the World Cup, the Finance Minister said, “You know, there is a lot of change. As I say, this is part of the Qatari journey. We are doing this for Qatar, for the future of Qatar and for our Vision 2030 and our diversification. This will continue. This is part of our principles. It is not something we are doing just for the World Cup.”

On the country’s $8 billion budget surplus, he said, “We have a very clear and disciplined fiscal policy framework. This is already approved by the government. And this is deciding how we do and how we deal with surpluses. Our surplus goes to Qatar Investment Authority for investment as part of our diversification.”