Qatar has pledged to continue to improve the country’s business environment to boost private investment in its economy and multibillion-dollar infrastructure development programme.

“Qatar continues to implement new legislation and investment-friendly laws aimed at liberalising the business environment and enabling investors to take a more active role in our development plans,” said Mohammed bin Salah al-Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry in a speech delivered by Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi, managing director of Rasgas and vice-chairman of Qatar Petroleum at the MEED Qatar Projects 2013 conference on 18 February.

Al-Mohannadi said that the changes in Qatar’s business environment are “creating a new competitive landscape that gives better value to clients, reduces processing costs and drives consumerism”.

Al-Mohannadi’s speech highlighted that Qatar was ranked 11th on the latest Global Competitive Index, a rise of three places on the previous year, and said that this “once again reaffirms its position as the most competitive economy in the region”.

The Energy Ministry pledged to continue to introduce exemptions and incentives to further increase the appeal for foreign investors to contribute to the Gulf state’s development programme.

“We invite all investors all around the world to participate in our fast-growing economy and become an integral part of the phenomenal transformation of Qatar.”