With more than 3,000 in-person participants from 127 countries, including many high-level dignitaries, the third Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg (QEF) served as a platform for meaningful discussions and exchange, paving the way to better economic opportunities locally and globally.
The Forum, which took place from 23 to 25 May under the high patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, explored the latest trends in finance, energy, healthcare, and technology, and examined their potential to drive future growth, through a series of keynote interviews, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.
His Highness the Amir attended the inaugural panel discussion, and the opening was also attended by President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez, Armenia's President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Kazakhstan Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud The Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia.
Qatari dignitaries who addressed the event included H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; H.E. the Minister of Finance, Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari; H.E. the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Eng. Saad Sherida al-Kaabi; H.E. the Governor of Qatar Central Bank, Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani; Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H.E. Akbar Al-Baker; and Qatar Investment Authority CEO, Mansoor Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud.
For MCQ whose multi-year partnership with Bloomberg Media Group first brought the event to life, QEF 2023 was a sweeping success, bringing together several global business leaders, as well as over 60 regional and international speakers, made up of government leaders, CEOs, global investors, and influential voices from the worlds of culture, sport, and entertainment.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency following the conclusion of the Forum, the Chairperson of the Supreme Committee Organising the Qatar Economic Forum and Media City Qatar CEO, Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, noted that events such as QEF bring direct economic returns, including the recovery of the tourism sector, increased hotel occupancy, and reservations, and indirect ones, such as promoting the country as a destination for all events and consolidating Qatar’s pivotal role and global standing.
MCQ and Bloomberg Media Group signed a new multi-year contract on the sidelines of the event, securing QEF as an annual destination for dialogue and knowledge-exchange until 2027.
