It gives me pleasure to meet with you at your esteemed Council at the start of a new legislative session which, we trust, will be rich with your contributions and valuable participation in national affairs as you have always done. Our meeting this year comes at the beginning of a new stage which is a milestone in our country’s history, namely the implementation of the country’s Permanent Constitution.

Honourable Brothers,

      The implementation of the Permanent Constitution has crowned the phase of finalizing the institutional and legislative framework of the state of institutions and law that is based on the separation of powers with their integration. The Permanent Constitution has also set the fundamental elements of the society; it maintained a fine balance between public rights and duties; enhanced popular participation; laid down the foundations of economic activity on the basis of respect of individual property and freedom of economic activity, and the balanced cooperation between public and private activity in order to realize economic and social development. Moreover the Constitution underlined the principle of judicial monitoring of the constitutionality of laws and legitimacy of administrative work.

      The phase of institutional and legislative building up has come, or is about to come, to an end, thus putting us before a real and more difficult challenge where our will and capabilities will be tested for the proper and actual execution of what we have opted to achieve the targeted goals of development, progress and prosperity.

      In this context, we are fully aware that laws, though indispensable as an instrument to set the necessary frameworks for human activities, whether political, social or economic, do not make miracles, for miracles are made by the will of the people and their determination and resolve to elevate their status and take their proper place through tireless work and enlightened awareness not only of their rights but also of their duties towards their homelands.

      Hence, our priorities in the coming period should be directed to creative executive work and improvement of management and work systems in the State organs as a fundamental requirement to push forward development efforts and step up the efficiency of public utilities and regulate the quality and cost of their services. For this end, the State has recently embarked on freeing some important sectors and utilities from the restrictions and rules of governmental work procedures, either by turning government organs into public authorities and corporations with a great deal of independence that adopt more dynamic systems of management, or by setting up free zones and financial centers with systems that are consistent with international standards.

Honourable Brothers,

      I must, however, say that this is not relevant to the activities of the State and governmental organs alone, since the private sector is the second stream of development which we are keen to make a major player in achieving development. This was emphasized by the Permanent Constitution which considered balanced cooperation between public and private activity a basis for realizing economic and social development, increasing production, achieving prosperity for the citizens and provide job opportunities for them. Therefore the private sector has main duties the fulfillment of which was guaranteed by the legislations and policies adopted by the State.

      No doubt we see good results in some aspects of economic activities, particularly in the real estate construction sector; namely houses, hotels and office buildings. However, I call upon the private sector to give more attention to all other aspects, and also call upon banks and financial institutions to create investment opportunities and saving schemes to absorb the savings of citizens and the surplus of development, since in the absence of such schemes the consumer spending, instead of beneficial saving, will intensify , leaving negative impacts on the rates of economic growth.

      We must realize that the free economy adopted by the Permanent Constitution as a way to achieve economic and social development is not just rules to be set and mechanisms to be applied but rather an integrated culture based on the values of self reliance, fair competition, furtherance of the value of work, savings, transparency and real contribution to the national product ,etc. All of us should work together to deepen this culture in our society and our economic practices in order to provide our national economy with all elements of success, growth and capability for competition in accordance with international standards to which all countries shall in the near future adhere.

Honourable Brothers, Members of the Advisory Council,

      Our national economy has experienced a boom that calls for satisfaction and optimism, as the gross national product has increased to approximately 103.5 billion Riyals in 2004 in comparison with about 29.5 billion Riyals in 1995; recording an annual growth rate of more than 13 percent during the last ten years. In 2004 alone the growth rate exceeded 20 percent and this figure is expected to be surpassed in 2005.

      This growth was accompanied with overall positive indicators both in the balance of trade, the balance of payments and public budget, especially in the last years. The only indicator showing negative results is that of inflation rate, which rose considerably in 2004 and 2005 than it was before. Although this rate is not considered very high by world standards, particularly in developing countries, its sudden increase and concentration in one sector gives rise to concern and the need for follow up. I call upon your esteemed Council to study all aspects of this phenomenon and put forward the proposals that help get over all its consequences.

Honourable Brothers, Members of the Advisory Council,

      The economic achievements mentioned above have been realized as a result of a number of factors, most important of which are the sound strategies adopted by the State for the development of oil production, the optimum utilization of the country’s natural gas resources, and the ambitious policies it followed in establishing gigantic projects in the fields of oil, gas and petrochemicals. This made it imperative that the efficiency of our human resources be upgraded to the level of world standards to cope with those requirements.

      To provide the suitable climate for investment, Qatar Financial Centre has been set up according to international legal and administrative standards with the aim of attracting world financial institutions and banks to diversify investment and provide the necessary financing sources to contribute to the economic development. Moreover, foreign investors have been allowed to own up to 25% of the shares in circulation in Doha Securities Market, and up to 100% of the activities in Qatar Financial Centre.

      The legislation relating to Qatar Financial Markets Authority and Doha Securities Market Company has been issued to strengthen the confidence in the system of dealings in these securities and provide guarantees for their holders. That is in addition to laws relating to the free zones and freedom of trade. All this requires as, I have mentioned before, embracing a culture based on competition, transparency and accountability.

      On the other hand, the other State activities have received all the attention and care they deserve within the framework of the comprehensive development plan and raising the standard of public services. Here I mention in particular the education and the public health sectors. Our educational plan, endorsed by the National Council for Education, is proceeding along its drawn course for the development of the educational policy to respond to the needs and requirements of the society, and to attract educational institutions of world caliber.

      With regard to public health, which is of paramount importance to the State and the citizens, we decided to entrust responsibility for it to a national authority which is the higher authority in the field of health care in the country, and is responsible for drafting the national strategy for health care and for bringing it to the highest standards.

      Moreover, the State has allotted through its public budget the necessary funds for developing the infra-structure to cope with the growing economic developments. It also drew a strategy for the build-up of reserves. It has actually started building up reserves of various goals to reduce dependency of the State public budget on the gas and oil revenues. In this context, Qatar Investment Organ has been created.

      These are the most important features of what we have achieved. We will continue our best efforts to reinforce the process of national development in all fields.

Honourable Brothers,

      Out of our belief in the importance of this approach, we have always been calling for promoting the status and role of the United Nations in international relations since it represents the international legality. On top of our foreign policy, of course, is strengthening of our relations with the sisterly GCC countries and supporting the GCC Council’s march towards achieving integration of its states, particularly in the economic field to fulfill the hopes and ambitions of the Gulf citizen in this respect.

      On the other hand, the State of Qatar has welcomed the new Sudanese government and the steps it took to end the conflict in Darfur, and work closely with the international community to restore law and order to this region.

      Finally, we hope that the peace process in brotherly Somalia would continue, and that its government could play its normal role to realize security and stability and sovereignty over its territories.

Honourable Brothers, Members of the Advisory Council,

      We are appreciative of your esteemed Council which has since its inception been supportive and helpful to the executive power by providing sincere opinion, and true counsel. Though the period that passed since its inception is short in the life of the states and peoples, it has established through its practices during that period rules for popular participation based on constructive objective dialogue that does not exclude any opinion, nor be impatient with a view point, but observes the public interest and the good of the homeland and the citizen as the goal of its work.

      May God bestow success on you

May the peace, the mercy and blessings of God be upon you.