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Made in Qatar 2023
to kick off tomorrow
Under the patronage of His
Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim
bin Hamad al-Thani, the ninth
edition of the ‘Made in Qatar’
exhibition will kick off tomorrow,
with the participation of 450
companies and factories. The
four-day exhibition is organised
by the Qatar Chamber in co-
operation with the Ministry of
Commerce & Industry. Page 8
13th Katara dhow
festival starts today
Under the patronage of His
Highness the Amir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani,
the 13th edition of the Katara
Traditional Dhow Festival will
begin today at Katara Beach and
will continue until December
2. Jihad al-Jaidah, a member of
the organising committee said
that this year’s diverse edition
will bring distinguished regional
and international participation.
Page 9
Gaza truce extended
by two days: Qatar
Reuters
Cairo/Jerusalem
M
ediator Qatar said yes-
terday a truce between
Israeli and Palestinian
Resistance Movement Hamas in
Gaza had been extended by two
days, continuing a pause in seven
weeks of warfare that has killed
thousands and laid waste to the
Palestinian enclave.
“The State of Qatar announces
that, as part of the ongoing me-
diation, an agreement has been
reached to extend the humanitari-
an truce for an additional two days
in the Gaza Strip,” Qatari foreign
ministry spokesman Majed al-
Ansari said on X, formerly Twitter.
Qatar – with the support of
the United States and Egypt
– has been engaged in intense
negotiations to establish and
Financial sector’s contribution to be
raised to QR84bn in GDP by 2030
QCB Governor HE Sheikh Bandar
bin Mohamed bin Saoud al-Thani
outlines the salient features of the
third financial sector strategy.
By Santhosh V Perumal
Business Reporter
T
he Qatar Central Bank
(QCB) yesterday unveiled
the third financial sector
strategy (TFSS), as part of efforts
to enhance the sector’s contribu-
tion to QR84bn in gross domestic
WELCOME
gulftimes
Qatar, Cyprus to bolster relations
H
is Highness the Amir
Sheikh Tamim bin Ha-
mad al-Thani and Presi-
dent of the Republic of Cyprus
Nikos Christodoulides held a ses-
sion of official talks at the Amiri
Diwan yesterday.
Talks during the session fo-
cused on ways to develop joint
co-operation, especially in the
fields of energy, economy, invest-
ment, education and tourism.
The two sides also exchanged
views on key regional and inter-
national issues, especially devel-
opments in the situation in Gaza
and the occupied Palestinian ter-
ritories.
The session was attended by
HE the Chief of the Amiri Di-
wan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdul-
rahman al-Thani, HE the Min-
ister of State for Foreign Affairs
Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi
prolong the truce in Gaza.
There was no immediate com-
ment from Israel, but a White
House official confirmed agree-
ment had been reached.
Hamas also said it had agreed
a two-day extension to the truce
with Qatar and Egypt, who have
been facilitating indirect negotia-
tions between the two sides.
“An agreement has been
reached with the brothers in Qatar
and Egypt to extend the temporary
humanitarian truce by two more
days, with the same conditions as
in the previous truce,” a Hamas
official said in a phone call with
Reuters.
None of the announcements
specified how many hostages
would be released, but earlier the
head of Egypt’s State Information
Service, Diaa Rashwan, had said
the deal being negotiated would
include the release of 20 Israeli
HE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim
al-Thani, along with other dignitaries at the launch of third financial
sector strategy. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam
product (GDP) by 2030 and trans-
form the country into an innova-
tion hub and global centre for cut-
ting-edge financial services.
The strategy, built upon four
pillars and supported by five cross-
cutting themes, was launched
by HE the Prime Minister Sheikh
Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin
Jassim al-Thani in the presence of
Our New Expert
Gastroenterologist
GulfTimes_QATAR
Amir, Cyprus president hold official talks
and number of senior officials.
On the Cypriot side, it was at-
tended by Deputy Minister to the
President Irene Piki, Director of
the President’s Diplomatic Office
Marilena Raouna, and Deputy Of-
ficial Spokesman for the Govern-
ment of the Republic of Cyprus
hostages from among those seized
by Hamas during its Oct. 7 assault
on southern Israel. In exchange 60
Palestinian prisoners held in Is-
raeli jails would be freed, he said.
The initial four-day truce was
due to end on Monday night.
Israel has bombarded the en-
clave and mounted a ground of-
fensive in the north. More than
15,000 Palestinians have been
killed and hundreds of thousands
displaced.
The truce agreement also al-
lowed for aid trucks to enter Gaza.
On Sunday, Hamas freed 17
people, including a 4-year-old
Israeli-American girl, bringing
the total number the group has re-
leased since Friday to 58, including
foreigners. Israel freed 39 teenage
Palestinian prisoners on Sunday,
taking the total number of Pales-
tinians freed under the truce to
117. Page 11
Minister of Commerce and Indus-
try HE Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari,
QCB Governor HE Sheikh Bandar
bin Mohamed bin Saoud al-Thani,
Qatar Stock Exchange acting chief
executive officer Abdulaziz Nasser
al-Emadi, and other dignitaries
including top officials of banks,
insurance companies and other fi-
nancial entities. To Page 3
Dr.
MBBS, MD (General Medicine)
DM (Gastroenterology)
Yiannis Antoniou, along with a
number of members of the ac-
companying official delegation.
His Highness the Amir and the
president of Cyprus also held a
bilateral meeting, during which
they discussed a host of topics of
common interest.
Argentinians, French, Germans among hostages freed
Dr Majed al-Ansari, spokesman for
Qatar’s foreign ministry, said the
11 freed Israeli captives yesterday
included three French citizens,
two Germans, and six citizens of
Argentina. He said in a post on X
that they have been handed over
to the Red Cross.
Dr al-Ansari added that those
Palestinians released from Israeli
TUESDAY Vol. XXXXIII No. 12842
November 28, 2023
Jumada I 14, 1445 AH
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His Highness the Amir hosted
a luncheon in honour of Presi-
dent Christodoulides and the
delegation accompanying him.
An official reception ceremo-
ny was accorded to the Cypriot
president upon his arrival at the
Amiri Diwan. Pages 3, 10
prisons include 30 minors and 3
women.
Meanwhile, the office of Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said it had informed families of the
identities of hostages to be released
on Monday, the last day of the initial
four-day truce.
The Qatari announcement
extending the ceasefire by two
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Talks marked by mutual
understanding: Amir
His Highness the Amir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, affirmed
that his talks with President of
the Republic of Cyprus Nikos
Christodoulides, were characterised
by an atmosphere of mutual
understanding regarding the
development of bilateral co-
operation, in light of the promising
opportunities and capabilities of
both countries. The Amir said in
a post on his official account on
‘X’ that the talks also touched on
the developments in Gaza, and
the two sides emphasised the
comprehensive solution to the
Palestinian issue based on the two-
state solution and in accordance
with international legitimacy. (QNA)
days came after US President Joe
Biden, top EU envoy Josep Borrell
and NATO Secretary General Jens
Stoltenberg all joined a global
chorus urging the parties to extend
their temporary break in fighting.
Tearful reunions of families and
hostages have brought relief from
images of civilian death and suffering
in the seven-week war. Page 11