Saleh bin Mohammad Al-Nabit, President, Planning and Statistics Authority • Interview

In addition to providing continuous social and economic forecasts, PSA is also focused on supporting the authorities in their planning efforts in line with National Development Strategy 2018-2022.

The Qatar National Vision 2030 tries to keep a balance between an increasingly diversified economy and acknowledging the importance of hydrocarbons. What are your most important findings regarding this future balance?

From 2014-2020, the Qatari economy faced several challenges that contributed to a relative change in the economy structure, mainly: the fluctuating global demand and the fluctuating prices of oil and gas products and their manufacturing derivatives; financing the infrastructure associated with diversifying the economy and hosting the World Cup 2022; and the unjust blockade imposed on the State of Qatar, which has caused economic and social shocks. The economic policies and administrative measures implemented by the government to reduce the negative effects of the blockade and the fluctuations in the oil and gas markets and maximize the benefits of public and private investment have led to an increase in the share of non-hydrocarbon activities at the expense of a decline in the share of hydrocarbon activities.

Vision 2030 seeks to achieve a balance between an oil-based and a knowledge-based economy. In this regard, the future and transformation will depend on: firstly the optimal use of hydrocarbon resources, with an effective and dynamic management of the depleted resources by raising the operational efficiency of Qatari companies working in oil and gas projects; creating a balance between reserves and production by encouraging investment in economic sectors by creating an enabling environment and developing a stimulus package in addition to an attractive legislative framework for investors and the activation of the

Investor Service Center and Kiosk, and the launch of the Investment Promotion Agency, an affiliate of the Qatar Financial Center that facilitates the establishment and operation of businesses; and diversifying Qatar’s sources of income by investing in the sovereign fund for future generations.

How will environmental issues impact the future success of Qatari lives and businesses?

In order to realize the importance of environmental sustainability for the leadership of Qatar, we must look at its position as a fundamental pillar in Vision 2030. Since our livelihood depends mainly on the optimal use of our wealth and natural resources, it was important to build a solid human capital in the field of environmental sustainability. It was also important and critical to attract global talent in the field of environmental sustainability and the use of environmental resources. Based on these strategic directions, the issue of environmental sustainability and development has assumed a great and prominent position in the education system, starting from pre-school to post-doctoral research and study centers that have been more focused in this regard. Over the past two decades, several environmental sustainability research grants have been awarded to a number of university professors, undergraduates, and graduate students (Texas A&M University and Carnegie Mellon University). Some of these grants were made through remarkable cooperation with elite industrial partners such as Qatar Petroleum, Shell, and Total, as these research focus on environmental sustainability as a major national priority to preserve environmental resources for future generations.

What are your most immediate strategic priorities for 2021, and what new innovations will you adopt to make your work more efficient?

PSA continues its national role in ensuring the achievement of Vision 2030 by following up on the implementation and progress of achieving the goals and projects of the National Development Strategy 2018-2022 as planned. PSA also provides continuous social and economic forecasts, while continuing to support the concerned national authorities in the planning efforts and implementing the goals of the national development strategy. PSA’s priorities in the field of statistics evolve with the development of the processes of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating national statistics, in line with the unified global statistics approved by the UN’s Statistics Division. Preparations are also being made in PSA to start the organizational and coordination measures to prepare the third National Development Strategy 2023-2028 as part of a series of medium-term strategies to achieve the goals of Vision 2030.