DOHA: The Shura Council has held its regular weekly session at the Tamim bin Hamad Hallat the Council's headquarters, chaired by Speaker of the Council HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.
At the beginning of the session, the Council praised the participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in the G20 Summit 2024, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Federative Republic of Brazil, under the slogan 'Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet'.
The Council considered that His Highness's attendance at this summit at the invitation of Brazilian President HE Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reflects the prominent position of the State of Qatar and its pivotal role in enhancing international cooperation and its continuous contribution to addressing global issues.
The Council welcomed the results of the official visit of His Highness the Amir to the Republic of Costa Rica, which included strengthening bilateral relations.
The Council noted His Highness’s honouring of the winners of the 'His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award'during the ceremony held in San Jose.
It stressed that this award highlights the State of Qatar's commitment to promoting the values of transparency and integrity, praising the global interest it receives as an inspiring model to support international efforts to combat corruption.
The Council also welcomed the results of His Highness's official visit to Colombia, stressing that it provided an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss prospects for cooperation in various fields.
Following that, the Council discussed the draft state general budget for the fiscal year 2025, in the presence of Minister of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, and a number of officials from the Ministry.
At the beginning of the discussions, the Minister of Finance gave a comprehensive presentation on the draft state budget for the fiscal year 2025, which included a detailed vision for the budget, which was based on enhancing development spending and ensuring economic sustainability, while maintaining the state’s priorities in supporting key sectors such as health, education and infrastructure.
The Minister of Finance also answered the inquiries of the Council members, regarding the various sectors of the budget.
Following the presentation, Al Ghanimpraised the efforts made by the Ministry of Finance in preparing the draft budget, noting the comprehensive presentation that highlighted a balanced vision between enhancing spending on vital sectors and ensuring financial sustainability.
The Speaker of the Shura Council stressed that the draft budget reflects the wise policy of His Highness the Amir and his interest in key sectors such as health, education and infrastructure projects, which constitute basic pillars for achieving Qatar National Vision 2030.
For their part, the Council members praised in their interventions the directions focused on by the new budget, especially those related to developing public services, supporting strategic investments, and paying attention to development projects that enhance the quality of life of citizens.
The Council members expressed their appreciation for the achievements and gains made under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir of the country, stressing the importance of continuing these efforts to achieve the aspirations of citizens and enhance the country's position at various levels.
They stressed the importance of focusing on enhancing economic diversification by supporting non-oil sectors and encouraging investment in innovative and technological fields that contribute to achieving economic sustainability and reducing dependence on traditional resources.
They also stressed the need to continue efforts to enhance the efficiency of government spending and ensure that it is directed to projects that meet citizens' needs and achieve sustainable development.
They praised the clarity and transparency of the presentation of the Minister of Finance, which reflects the government’s keenness to strengthen partnership with the Council in discussing financial issues in a way that serves the public interest.
On the other hand, the Speaker of the Shura Council, informed the members about the visit of DrTulia Axson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, to the State of Qatar, upon an invitation from the Shura Council.
He referred to his meeting with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, indicating that the meeting included discussing strengthening the partnership between the two sides, indicating that she praised the progress and development witnessed by the country in various fields, and that she also congratulated the State of Qatar on the success of the referendum on the constitutional amendments.
He stressed that this visit and the meetings and gatherings that took place during it represent an important step to enhance cooperation between the Council and the Union, and support parliamentary dialogue in facing international challenges and achieving sustainable development.