2 Gulf Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

QATAR

‘Better Iran-GCC relationship can

bring great prosperity to region’
I
f the GCC and Iran can iron
out their differences, there
is a scope for great prosper-
ity in the region, said HE Sheikh
Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-
Thani, former prime minister.
“Right now, there is no
change in the GCC and Iran
relationship. But this is a hope
that we have to see, a reconcili-
ation or really direct talks be-
tween Iran and the GCC. Also,
the GCC has to come together
with one policy. There were
some difficulties in the last few
years. However now we have to
during the Qatar Economic Fo-
rum, Powered by Bloomberg.
“If we can work together
with Iran, there will be a lot of
prosperity both financially and
culturally. We are in the same
region. We need to be friends
and not to interfere in other
countries’ affairs. If both sides
can take the lead to be frank and
to lay the path on how we can
develop this relation, there is
huge scope for great develop-
ment and prosperity,” he said.
According to HE Sheikh Ha-
mad, the region is facing several
these leaders, that they can face
these challenges quite well. But
there are more challenges for
them and the situation is more
difficult as they face more de-
mands from their people. So,
you need to find a way out to
bring a common policy for the
GCC to face all these challeng-
es.”
As for the Israel-Palestine
issue, he noted that there is an
obligation to help the Pales-
tinians to solve their problems
with Israel. “The Palestinians
need our support to guide them

Pandemic ‘a chance to think on how we bring the GCC

to act in the right way to face
the new challenges,” said HE
challenges. He explained, “If we
don’t consolidate the GCC with
one vision and one decision at
for a peaceful solution with the
Israelis. It is a very important
topic. Similarly, with Iran, we

build an economy that Sheikh Hamad while answering

a question on Iran-GCC rela-
tions during an interview with
least on the main topics, then
we will have many issues. We
have many new leaders in the
have another important topic,
which is entirely different from
the Israeli-Palestinian issue,” HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, former

respects environment’ Bloomberg’s Simone Foxman GCC. There is great hope about he added. prime minister.

U
K Prime Minister Boris He also noted that 10 years ago,

Erdogan calls for providing

Johnson stressed that the
Covid-19 pandemic al-
lowed the world to rebuild its
economy in a way that respects
the environment, safeguard the
planet, and realise the aspirations
40 % of the electricity pro-
duced in the UK came from
coal, compared to 2% now. He
added that the UK will elimi-
nate the use of coal for electric-
ity by 2024.

Covid-19 vaccines equitably

of the future generations of high-
quality jobs that does not margin-
alise anyone, QNA reported.
Johnson was speaking at the
Qatar Economic Forum, Pow-
ered by Bloomberg and dis-
Johnson called on other
countries of the world to co-
operate in developing the glo-
bal economy, saying that it was
a matter of will, given the tech-
nology that is now available

cussed his country’s sustain-
able development efforts over
the past 30 years. He said that
during this time, the UK cut its
carbon emissions by more than
40% even though it grew 78%.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Cote d’Ivoire PM stresses progress in
modernising economic structures
to achieve it. He also said that
the United Kingdom is work-
ing with other friendly nations
to ensure the efforts to leave a
clean planet for future genera-
tions is successful.
T
urkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has highlighted the
negative and significant effects
of the coronavirus (Covid-19) on the
economies of countries, especially the
developing and poor ones, and the ac-
companying contraction in the global
economy, as well as the increase in food
prices, QNA reported.
Addressing Qatar Economic Forum,
Powered by Bloomberg yesterday via
video conference, President Erdogan re-
viewed the efforts made by his country
to overcome and bypass the pandemic
crisis, including providing vaccines to
other countries that did not receive suf-
ficient quantities of them.
He stressed the importance of soli-
darity this regard, indicating that stud-
ies have proven that 75 of the poorest
countries have not yet received vac-
cines.
President Erdogan said Turkey is
at the forefront of countries that has
fought the pandemic and contained its
effects.
He said that, despite the pandemic,
Turkey has the highest growth rate
of the G20 countries, adding that the
country is looking positively to the fu-
ture, highlighting reports that the Turk-
ish economy will grow 7% in 2021.
Erdogan expressed his sadness over
the impact of the pandemic on the glo-
bal economy, noting that Turkey is ready
to adapt to these changes, and high-
lighted the risks these changes pose to
all countries and economies.
He noted that Turkey developed at
a faster rate over the past 10 years. The
Turkish president also stressed the
need to ensure availability and fair ac-
cess to therapeutics and vaccines, and
expressed his hope that vaccines could
become readily available before the end
of this year. At the end of his speech, the
Turkish president praised Qatar’s host-
ing of the forum, under the wise leader-
ship of His Highness the Amir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and ex-
pressed his thanks and appreciation to
everyone who contributed to staging it. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Cote d’Ivoire Prime Minister

Patrick Achi (pictured) has
underlined that his country is

Health official hails Amir’s speech at QEF

moving forward in modernising
its economic structures and
enhancing aspects of devel-
opment in accordance with
its 2030 development vision,

through the optimal use of its
natural resources, including
cocoa,QNA reported. Addressing
Qatar Economic Forum, Pow-
ered by Bloomberg, Achi said
Cote d’Ivoire is the largest ex-
porter of cocoa in the world with
40% of global production and
nearly 2mn tonnes of produc-
tion annually, noting that cocoa
represents 47% of his country’s
exports. He added that last year
a team was formed to work with
the European Union on issuing
legislation related to a number
of issues, including addressing
desertification, child labour and
cocoa pricing. He said that his
country’s 2030 Vision aims
to ensure that raw materials
produced are compatible with
sustainable development and
global consumers who are con-
cerned about climate and pol-
lution issues. He said therefore
the country co-operates with
everyone and have made great
achievements, including meet-
ing with countries, governments
and institutions producing and
exporting cocoa to discuss fair
prices for this globally important
commodity.
A
senior health official has
lauded His Highness the
Amir Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad al-Thani’s speech at the
opening of the Qatar Economic
Forum, Powered by Bloomberg
on Monday.
“I would like to echo what
His Highness the Amir of Qa-
tar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
al-Thani, said while inaugu-
rating the virtual Qatar Eco-
nomic Forum on Monday that
getting more vaccines than
required by some countries
would halt the efforts to curb
Covid-19 in the world. His
Highness’ speech was timely
as some countries scram-
ble for the vaccines, making
some poor countries unable
to access the direly-needed
vaccines in order to finish
the pandemic,” Ali al-Khater,
chair of the Ministry of Pub-
lic Health’s Healthcare Com-
munications Committee and
chief communications officer
at Hamad Medical Corpora-
tion, said in a statement.
“I am grateful that the Gov-
ernment of Qatar has made
Covid-19 vaccines accessible
to everyone in the country free
of charge. The rapid inocula-
tion of everyone living in Qatar
has contributed greatly to the
fight against Covid-19 in Qa-
tar. This vaccination drive has
been made possible because of
collaborative efforts between
the Ministry of Public Health,
Hamad Medical Corporation,
Primary Health Care Corpo-
ration and other ministries as
well as other stakeholders,” he
said.
“I would like to thank His
Highness the Amir for the hu-
manitarian efforts that Qatar
has been making by donating
vaccines to some countries
that may not be as privileged
as Qatar. So far, Qatar has pro-
vided vaccine support to more
than 80 countries. I would
wish that many other devel-
oped countries may emulate
Qatar and provide vaccine as-
sistance to poorer countries,”
he stressed. “As His Highness
the Amir said, even though
the global economy has been
hugely affected by the pan-
demic, it’s going to bounce
back soon, I believe. I can’t
wait to see when life will be
back as it used to be.” Ali al-Khater

US, Europe should raise supply chain for vaccines: Indian FM

By Joseph Varghese “The world doesn’t have enough vaccines.
Staff Reporter
The discussion with the US on vaccine was
how to keep the supply chain going up, so
T
he US and Europe need
to step up the supply that we can actually ramp up production of
chain for Covid-19 vac-
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cines, Indian Minister of Exter- vaccines at the kind of levels that the world
nal Affairs Dr S Jaishankar has needs. A lot of the supply chain originates
stressed.
He made the observation in the US as well as in Europe. The US and
Sheikh Hasina’s call to while speaking to Bloomberg’s
Jeanette Rodrigues at the Qatar
Economic Forum, Powered by
Europe have to step forward if India has to
ramp up its own production of vaccines”
check spread of diseases Bloomberg yesterday.
Jaishankar, who visited
Washington recently to discuss
the border,” Dr Jaishankar said.
“The larger issue is whether
The Indian minister high-
lighted that his country is
the issue of vaccines and their we can build this relationship engaged in developmental

B
angladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina stressed
the need for a great inter-
national co-operation to prevent
the spread of diseases, including
the coronavirus (Covid-19) pan-
demic, QNA reported.
Addressing the Qatar Eco-
nomic Forum, Powered by
Bloomberg currently in session
via videoconferencing, Sheikh
Hasina underlined the need for a
comprehensive and sustainable
approach to sharing responsibil-
ity in this regard. She focused on
many issues related to the pan-
demic and ways to confront it
and enhance efforts of develop-
ing countries. She highlighted
her country’s efforts since the
outbreak of the pandemic, reit-
erating the need for an interna-
tional partnership.
The forum yesterday hosted
a number of heads of states and
governments, business leaders
and experts to discuss a wide
range of issues related to the
global economic recovery after
the coronavirus pandemic and
other issues related to global
development.
raw materials, said that the US
and Europe should step up the
supply chain for vaccines so
that India can ramp up vaccine
production.
“The world doesn’t have
enough vaccines. The discus-
sion with the US on vaccine
was how to keep the supply
chain going up, so that we can
actually ramp up production
of vaccines at the kind of lev-
els that the world needs. A lot
of the supply chain originates
in the US as well as in Europe.
The US and Europe have to step
forward if India has to ramp up
its own production of vaccines,”
he noted.
“Once we started the pro-
duction of vaccines, we had
obliged to supply the vaccines
to our neighbours because we
genuinely believe that none is
safe till everyone is safe. Now,
when enough raw materials are
available and production picks
up, we see ourselves playing a
global role,” he added.
Meanwhile, he noted that
honouring of the written com-
mitment between India and
China is the key to keeping the
relationship normal between
the countries.
“The India-China border is-
sue is a challenge with two big
issues. One is that the close up
deployment still continues es-
pecially in Ladakh. The issue
is whether China will live up to
the written commitments it has
made of both the countries not
deploying large armed forces at
based on mutual respect, mu-
tual sensitivity and mutual in-
terest,” he said.
India is a member of the
Quad, an informal grouping
that includes the US, Australia
and Japan.
The minister said his coun-
try’s collaboration with Quad
and the border issue with China
has no connection and should
be viewed separately. “The
Quad is a collaboration mainly
focused on marine security,
connectivity, education and
even vaccine,” he said.
projects in as many as 62 coun-
tries. “We actually have taken
up about 630 projects. More
than half of them — 340 — have
been completed. We have a his-
tory of connectivity and infra-
structure projects in various
countries. What we discussed
in the G7 countries summit re-
cently is, it is important that
there should be broad principles
that such projects should be vi-
able, transparent and should
not contribute to debt and they
should be environment-friend-
ly,” he added.