Planning Council News Archive 2006

3-12-2006

GDP estimates, at current prices, reaches Q.R. 51 billion during third quarter, 2006

The Statistics Department of the Planning Council released GDP estimates of the third quarter 2006, classified by economic activities. The estimates indicates an increase in the GDP during the third quarter of 2006, reaching QR 51 billion against QR 48 and 45 billion during the second and first quarters of 2006, respectively. GDP during third quarter grew by 6.3% in comparison with the second quarter of the same year, against 6.1% growth rate between second and first quarters of the same year.

The growth rate during third quarter, 2006 compared to the same period of 2005 was approximately 29.2%, against 31.0% during second quarter 2006 in comparison with same period of 2005.

Mining and Quarrying (comprising extraction of oil and gas) deemed to be the leading activity, contributing QR 32.6 billion, a relative importance of 64% of total GDP during the third quarter of 2006, against QR 23.9 billion during the third quarter of 2005, with relative importance of 61% of total GDP, with a growth rate of 36.2% during this period. Mining and Quarrying activities grew by 7.4% during the third quarter in comparison with second quarter of the same year.

Excluding oil and gas activities, GDP estimates reached QR 18.5 billion during the third quarter of 2006 compared to QR 17.7 billion during second quarter of the same year, and QR 15.4 billions during third quarter of 2005. GDP (excluding oil and gas) grew by 4.4% during third quarter 2006 in comparison with second quarter of the same year. 20% was the growth change between third quarter 2006 and the same period of 2005.

The contribution of Government Services to the total GDP reached QR 4.5 billion during the third quarter of 2006, i.e. 8.8% of the GDP, against QR 4.1 billion during second quarter with approximate growth rate of 9.4%. Government Services witnessed a growth rate of 44% in comparison with the same period of 2005.

Next comes Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Business Services activity, contributing QR 4.0 billion to the GDP during third quarter of 2006, against QR 3.9 billion during second quarter of the same year, a growth rate of 3.8%. Comparing the contribution of Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Business Services during third quarter 2006 (QR 4.0 billion) with the same quarter 2005 (QR 3.4 billion), the growth rate reaches 16.9%.

As mentioned earlier, Mining and Quarrying industry is the leading activity contributing 64.0% of the total GDP generated during the third quarter 2006, compared with 60.8% during the same period of 2005. Ranking next is the Government Services, contributing 8.8% during third quarter of 2006 against 7.9% during the same period of 2005.

Finance, insurance, Real Estate and Business Services comes at third rank, with a contribution of 7.8% during third quarter of 2006, against 8.7% during the same period of 2005.
Manufacturing industry comes at fourth rank with a contribution of 6.9% during third quarter of 2006, against 8.3% for the same quarter 2005, despite the increase in its value from QR 3.3 billion, during third quarter of 2005, to QR 3.5 billion during same period 2006.

Custom duties jumped from QR 318 million during third quarter 2005 to QR 497 million during same period 2006. This is due to the increase of imports during 2006.

31-10-2006

Emiri Decision No (39) of 2006
Establishing the General Secretariat for Developmental Planning

H.H. the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent Shk. Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani issued an Emiri decision to set up The General Secretariat for Development Planning. The body has its legal personality, under the H.H. the Heir Apparent. Article 4 of the decision provides that the Secretariat shall propose comprehensive and general strategic plans for achievement of development in the State in all spheres, as well as follow-up their implementation. The decision is effective after six months of its issue at the Official Gazette.

Decision details

1-10-2006

Qatar's GDP estimates reaches Q.R 48 billion during second quarter of 2006

Data released by the Statistics Department, General Secretariat of the Planning Council, regarding estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) during second quarter of 2006, indicates that GDP grew by 6.1% during second quarter of 2006, in comparison with the first quarter of 2006, reaching QR 48.0 billion, compared to QR 45.3 billion during first quarter i.e. increase of approximately QR 2.7 billion.

Reviewing economic activities during second quarter of 2006, Mining and Quarrying (including extraction of Oil and Gas) is the leading sector, contributing approximately QR 30.0 billion, a relative importance of 63.1% of total GDP during the second quarter of 2006, followed by Finance, Insurance, Real Estate & Business Services (8.1%), Manufacturing (7.2%) and Construction (5.3%).

Comparing GDP estimates during second quarter, 2006 with those of the same period of 2005, it becomes clear that GDP grew from approximately QR 36.7 billion, in 2005 to QR 48.0 billions in 2006, achieving a remarkable growth of 31%. This is mainly due to the growth in the Oil and Gas sector (at a rate of 40%), followed by the Construction sector (at a rate of 19.2%), Finance, Insurance, Real Estate & Business Services sector (at a rate of 15.5%), Trade, Restaurants and Hotels sector (at a rate of 12.3%) and Electricity & Water sector (with a rate of 10.1%) .

Estimates of GDP for the second quarter of 2006

13-09-2006

WHO IS WHO DIRECTORY

The General Secretarial of the Planning Council has recently issued (Who is who) directory, which contains names of qualified Qatari and expatriate personnel with higher educational qualifications in all specializations from Western and other universities.

he directory enables ministries, public authorities and government agencies to get better acquainted with the human resources available in the government to compliment the expertise and obtain optimum utilization of resources whenever necessary. The directory is considered as the first step in documenting data and information so that the State can utilize, particularly in the HR field.

Project Objectives:

1-Preparing a directory that highlights Qatari and expatriate personnel with higher educational qualifications in all specializations from Western and other universities.
2-Distributing the directory to enable ministries, public authorities and government agencies to get acquainted with the human resources available in the government institutions.
3-Using the directory to compliment the expertise, invest and get optimum utilization out of them.
4-Listing the titles of MA and PhD theses to allow utilization of their experience in preparing similar researches in the State and further enrich researchers.

06-09-2006

The International Human Development Indicators Report

It is the pleasure of the Planning Council to introduce the 2007 Human Development Report. The report monitors fundamental changes in education, health and economic activity, and what was achieved by the State and Civil Society Organizations.

The report as well expresses the directions of the State of Qatar in care for Qatari human being, who represents the key element in human development, and he as well target and aim of development and the main beneficiary of development.

The United Nations expressed its interest in monitoring human development path around the world, and issuing an international report since 1990. This report reflects competition of nations toward development and progress and providing decent life for the people, through calculating human development index, which is based on standard indicators express numerically the reality of what each state presented to its people.

Human Development was measured according to the following indexes:
1. Life Expectancy at Birth.
2. Education (literacy rate, enrolment rate in primary, secondary and higher education).
3. Gross Domestic Product.

Efforts of the State of Qatar accomplished tangible results in health services, illiteracy eradication, education advancement in all stages and improvement of living standards. All these efforts resulted in achieving Qatar and advanced rank internationally, where it was rated as one of the high human development countries, and was ahead of all Arab States in the previous report. We hope that progress of the State of Qatar continues in leading the Arab region and the world in this year report.

The report comprises of the following chapters:
1. Human Development Index..
2. Human Poverty.
3. Demographic Trends.
4. Commitment to Health.
5. Water, Sanitation and Nutritional Status.
6. Health Crisis and Changes.
7. Survival: Progress and Setbacks.
8. Literacy and Enrolment.
9. Technology and Creation.
10. Economic Performance.
11. Inequality Income and Consumption.
12. Structure of Trade.
13. Flows of aid, Private Capital and Debt.
14. Revenues, public spending.
15. Energy and environment.
16. Refugees and Armaments.
17. Gender-Related Development.
18. Gender Empowerment Measure.
19. Gender Inequality in Education.
20. Gender Inequality in Economic Activity.
21. Women Political Participation.
22. Status of Major international Human Rights Instruments.
23. Status of Fundamental Labor Rights Conventions.

For more details click here

18-06-2006

Under the Patronage of H.E. the Minister of Finance, The General Secretary of the Planning Council and the international Management Development Institute (IMD) will hold a Meeting with business leaders on the Competitiveness of the Economy of Qatar

The Planning Council in cooperation with the International Management Development Institute is hosting a working dinner for business leaders and senior executives in the private and public sectors today 19, 2006 at the Four Seasons Hotel the Murgab Hall. This event is in line with the Governments commitment to support an increased role for the private sector in the economy of Qatar, and with an objective to spotlight the performance of the economy, its competitiveness and the efficiency of the Qatari business sector.

The Invited guests will be afforded the opportunity to complete an opinion poll that will provide the necessary information on the performance of the economy, efficiency of the public services, efficiency of the business sector, the infrastructure. The responses of the questionnaire along with hard statistics on the economy will be used to be included in the World Competitiveness Report 2006 which is published by the IMD, Geneva, Switzerland.

This event will be attended by H. E. Yousif Hussein Kamal, Minister of Finance, Acting Minister of the Economy and Commerce, representatives of the Association of Qatari Businessmen, members of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, business leaders, high ranking executives in private and public sector enterprises. Dr. Peter Lorange and Dr. Hischam Elajami, experts at the IMD will speak at the event.

The event is expected to produce an important part of needed information required to issue a report on the competitiveness of Qatar in 2006. The report will rank Qatar among the leading economies of the world. It will also highlight the weakness and constraints that face the socio economic development efforts in Qatar and provide recommendations to counteract these obstacles. The report will provide valuable information and establish a data base that will be a great help to business men in the private sector and economic policy makes. The report will also put Qatar squarely on the global competitiveness map and will contain approximately 314 indicators covering four major areas: Economic performance, Government efficiency, Business Efficiency and Infrastructure, in addition to many other components of the report covering science and technology, health and education.

11-06-2006

Planning Council ~ The General Secretariat
Gross Domestic Product, 2005

Data Provided by the General Secretariat of the Planning Council indicates that the economy of Qatar has achieved a remarkable growth during the year 2005 in various economic activities, with varying rates. In comparison with 2004 estimates, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2005 has achieved a growth rate of 33.3% (rising from 115 billions Qatari riyals to 153.3 billions Qatari riyals). This rise is mainly due to the increase in the value added of oil and gas sector, which jumped from 63 billions Q.R. to nearly 92 billions Q.R., with a growth rate of 46.3% during 2005

The Sectors of oil and gas, construction, financial services and real estate has headed the list of economic activities in achieving remarkable growth rates during 2005 in comparison with 2004. These sector achieved growth rates of 46.3% , 36.1% and 39.3% respectively. That was due to the continuous increase of oil prices in the international markets and the booming in the activities of construction, real estate and financial services.

By reviewing the relative importance of the economic activities of the GDP structure, it will be noted that oil and gas sector is still possessing a high relative importance in the Qatari GDP structure, reaching approximately 60% during 2005, in comparison to 55% in 2004, followed by financial services and real estate activity (8.9%), manufacturing sector (8.5%), government services (8%) and construction (6%). The rest is distributed among the remaining economic activities . The increase in the relative importance of the oil and gas sector was due to the continuous rise of oil prices in the international markets.

Comparing the relative importance of economic activities prevailing in 2004 with those during 2005, it is apparent that there are certain sectors which has achieved an increase. These are: Mining (oil and gas), electricity and water, construction, communications, banks, insurance and financial intermediation services. On the other hand, the relative importance of agriculture and hunting, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, road and air transport, real estate and business services as well as social services had witnessed a decrease

For more information click here

05-06-2006

Symposium on Statistics for Development:
A Dialogue between Users and Producers of Statistics
Doha, 5-7 June 2006

The Planning Council, in cooperation with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), is organizing a third symposium on “Statistics for Development: A Dialogue between Users and Producers of Statistics”, in Doha, Qatar, during the period 5-7 June 2006. The symposium is to build on the results of the successful symposiums held in Doha in May 2004 and 2005 under the same title.

The symposium aims at increased interaction and cooperation between the users and producers of statistics at the national level, enhancing the role of statistics in and contribution towards national development, and increasing awareness of the function and significance of statistics. It aims also at a review of the present status of national statistical organization and outputs, and the further development of the strategy for improvement that emanated from the 2004 and 2005 symposiums.

The symposium is a national event that will host representatives of national users and producers of statistics, as well as representatives of a number of international statistical organizations and national statistical offices of member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Tentatively, the first day will be devoted to opening ceremony and the presentations of outside speakers. The second day will be allocated to round-table discussions between users and producers of statistics in Qatar, in which visiting experts will take an active part, and in which several areas of mutual interest will be covered, notably among them: demand, availability and needs of statistics; data analysis and interpretation, human development indices; millennium development goals; gender, poverty and environment statistics; and a statistics strategy for the future.

18-05-2006

The Third Symposium on Civil Society Institutions and their Role in Development

Recognizing the importance of the role civil society institutions, as the third sector, in economic and social development, the Secretariat General of the Planning Council, in collaboration with the Arab Organization for Administrative Development, will organize in Doha, during the period 22-24 May 2006, the Third Symposium on Civil Society Institutions and their Role in Development. A large number of leading officials of civil society institutions, charitable organizations and private sector organizations, as well as academic specialists and other concerned Arab individuals, are expected to take part.

The symposium will dwell upon the following four themes:
¥ The concept of comprehensive and sustainable development
¥ Institutional and capacity development of civil society institutions
¥ The role of civil society institutions in the achievement of sustainable development
¥ Successful cases from Arab civil society institutions

The Secretariat General of the Planning Council expects the symposium to arrive at practical suggestions and recommendations that will contribute to the development of civil society institutions and their developmental role.

14-05-2006

Workshop on Public & Private Sectors Partnership in the GCC Countries - May 16-17, 2006

Under the patronage of His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah
Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, Chairman of the Planning Council, the General Secretariat of the Planning Council is organizing a workshop on the Public Private Sectors Partnership in the GCC countries on May 16-17, 2006.

The workshop aims to shed light on linkages between the economies of the GCC countries and the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), the enabling environment as well as the necessary elements and required steps for success. The workshops objective is to provide the policy makers a clear roadmap and practical modalities to enhance PPPs in the GCC countries. The workshop will also present a number of successful international, regional as well as well as GCC countries experiences in PPP.

Experts from the World Bank and GCC countries will make presentations during the workshop. Senior officials and representatives from a number of public and private sectors organizations in the State of Qatar and the GCC countries will also participate in the proceedings of the workshop.

The first day of the workshop includes an exposition of the overall concept of PPP, the enabling environment and elements of success. The second day will involve round table discussions on major axis in the PPP for the following sectors: Electricity and water, transportation, health and education, tourism. The workshop will conclude its proceedings with a declaration of the future directions of the PPP in the GCC countries.

16-04-2006

Workshop on Energy & Environment

In recognition to the procedures of major issues in the international arena, the General Secretariat of the Planning Council is desirous to organize an international workshop on Energy and Environment in the period 1-3 May 2006 at Doha, aiming at assuring use and management of conventional sources of energy, working on promoting utilization of renewed energy technologies and environment protection in addition to international cooperation and integration in the usage of energy for sustainable development .

The General Secretariat of the Planning Council anticipates that the workshop will come out with international and national technical papers reflecting the progress that has been achieved in the area of energy use to secure maintenance of energy for sustainable development, and providing researchers and planners with up-to-data information regarding programs, activities and policies related to energy, for a sustainable development.

Final Recommendations:

09-04-2006

Qatar Foreign Trade Indicators

The Planning Council ذ General Secretariat, in collaboration with the Customs and Ports General Authority released Foreign Trade Statistics (Imports and Exports) for the year 2005 .

Statistics include the following main indicators :
Total value of goods exports for the year 2005 reached Million Q.R. 92234 (Ninety two billions, two hundred and thirty four Million Qatari riyals), with an increase of 39.86% in comparison with 2004 figures.

Major exported goods during 2005 are :

Total value of goods imported during 2005 reached Million Q.R 36621 (Thirty six billions, six hundred and twenty one Million Qatari riyals), with an increase of 67.6% in comparison with 2004 figures .

Major imported goods during 205 were: Motor vehicles, amounting to Million Q.R. 2844 (Two billions, eight hundred and forty four Million Qatari riyals) i.e. 7.8% of total imports , followed by line pipes of iron or steel used for oil or gas pipelines, amounting to Million Q.R 1494 (One billion, four hundred and ninety four Million Qatari riyals) i.e. 4.1% of total imports value, followed by drilling equipment with a value of Million Q.R 684 (six hundred and eighty four Million Qatari riyals), amounting to 1.9% of total imports value, followed by electrical cables with a cross sectional exceeding 10 mm. and a voltage exceeding 300, with a value of Million Q.R 547 (five hundred and forty seven Million Qatari riyals) i.e. 1.5% of total value of imports.

The total value of re-exported goods during 2005 amounted to Million Q.R 1540 (One billion, five hundred and forty Million Qatari riyals), of which Million Q.R 835 (Eight hundred and thirty five Million Qatari riyals) is the value of goods re-exported to the GCC countries i.e. 54.2% total value of re-exported goods .

Japan is the major source of imports during 2005, whereas total value of imports from Japan amounted to Million Q.R 4263 (Four billion, two hundred and sixty three Million Qatari riyals) i.e. 11.6% of total value of imports, followed by USA with an amount of Million QR. 4232 (Four billions, two hundred and thirty two Million Qatari riyals) i.e. approximately 11.6% of total value of imports. Germany comes in third rank with an amount of Million Q.R 3362 (Three billion, three hundred and sixty two Million Qatari riyals), i.e. 9.2% of total value of imports. Italy comes in fourth place with an amount of Million QR. 2356 (Two billion, three hundred and fifty six Million Qatari riyals), i.e. 6.5% of total value of imports. In fifth place comes UAE with an amount of Million QR. 2356 (Two billion, three hundred and fifty six Million Qatari riyals) i.e. 6.4% of total value of export during 2005 .

As for exports of goods of Qatari origin, Japan comes in first place with an amount of Million Q.R 37502 (Thirty seven billion, five hundred and two Million Qatari riyals) i.e. 40.7% of total value of exports, followed by South Korea with an amount of Million Q.R 14771 (Fourteen billion, seven hundred and seventy one Million Qatari riyals), i.e. 16.0 % of total value of exports. Singapore comes in third place with an amount of Million Q.R 7657 (Seven billion, six hundred and fifty seven Million Qatari riyals) i.e. 8.3% of total value of exports, followed by UAE with an amount of Million Q.R. 3822 (Three billion, eight hundred and twenty two Million Qatari riyals), i.e. a portion of 4.1% India was in fifth place with an amount of Million Q.R. 3203 (Three billion, two hundred and three Million Qatari riyals), i.e. 3.5 of total value of exports during 2005.

The following tables shows top ten sources of imports as well as top ten destinations of exports during 2004 and 2005:

Main Sources of Imports During 2004 & 2005

Main Destinations of Exports During 2004 & 2005

20-03-2006

A Guide on Regional, Arab and International Organizations and Agencies

The Secretariat General of the Planning Council issued a guide on Regional, Arab and International Organizations and Agencies to introduce the objectives and activities of these organizations, and to facilitate communications between them and government ministries and agencies and non-government organizations.

The guide consists of more than 400 organizations and agencies which specialize in economic, social, cultural and sports activities, and provide technical cooperation services in different developmental fields.

The guide is divided into 3 parts: the first one allocated to introductions to 177 International organizations and agencies heading among them, the United Nations Development Program, ( UNDP ) World Bank, (WB).

The second part consists of Arab organizations and agencies, chief among them to Arab league and the organizations and federations affiliated to it, which seek to support common Arab action in various developmental areas. The Arab organizations and agencies listed number ( 183 ) and include the organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OAPEC ), and to Arab Organization of Administrative Development.

The third part of the guide consists of introductions to regional organizations and agencies, leading among them the Gulf cooperation Council ( GCC). The number listed is ( 56 ), operating in areas that serve and support cooperation and integration in various fields GCC .

The Planning Council hopes that guide will be of assistance to government and non-government organizations which are the beneficiaries of technical cooperation assistance offered by international, Arab and regional organizations and agencies.

13-03-2006

A Guide to GCC and Arab Awards

The Secretariat General of the Planning Council recently issued a first guide to GCC and Arab awards. The Guide aims at increasing awareness of the awards granted by GCC and Arab organizations, including educational and cultural institutions, and Arab individuals.

The Guide identifies more than 100 awards granted in various fields of knowledge. It provides information on each award including its background, objectives, benefits, and application procedures, as well as the name and address of the award agency.

The awards have been classified into 10 categories that include humanities and arts, Islamic sciences, and engineering, medical and other sciences, as well as awards that recognize the achievements of individuals, institutions, women and people with special needs.

06-02-2006

The Planning Council finalizes a report on the Sustainable Development in Qatar.
(Report on the Implementation of Sustainable Development Initiative in the Arab Region, Feb. 2006)

The sustainable development has become a major perquisite and urgent need for maintaining justice in the distribution of development fruits to the different generations. Several regional and international conferences and symposia were held for this purpose.

In this context, and as part of the implementation of the Arab Leagues resolution No. (313), issued in the 17th meeting held in Tunisia in 2005, which has recommended the adoption of the sustainable development initiative in the Arab region and the mechanisms for implementation in coordination with the specialized Arab and international organizations, public sector and the concerned civil society organizations, the General Secretariat of the Planning Council, in cooperation with the Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR), ministries and government agencies and private sector institutions, has prepared Qatar's report on the follow up of the implementation of this initiative.

The report covers the following eight aspects: Peace and security, institutional framework, combating poverty, population and health, education, awareness, scientific research and technology transfer, resources management, consumption and production, globalization, trade and investment.

The report has also highlighted Qatar's action plan for the implementation of the sustainable development initiative in the Arab region.

26-02-2006

Workshop on The General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) and Government Finance Statistics (GFS2001)

The Secretariat General of the Planning Council in cooperation with the Qatari Ministry of Finance and GCC Secretariat General and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are organizing a workshop on The General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) and Government Finance Statistics (GFS)س in Doha during the period 2 - 6 April 2006.

The workshop aims to:
1-Inform the participants from GCC Ministries of Finance, Central Banks and Statistics Departments about (GFS2001), in order to be implemented in GCC countries.
2-Exchange of experience among GCC countries in treatment of oil and gas revenue in (GFS2001).
3-Presentation of examples from all GCC countries about coverage and sectorization in the public sector.
4-Inform the participants about (GDDS) for statistical development.
5-Inform the participants about the (GFS2001) analytical frame work and financial indicators.

The (IMF) delegation will include a senior staff member, two staff economists and an expert; one of the economists will stay in Doha during the week following the seminar to assist the Qatari Ministry of Finance in improving compilation of (GFS) and provide them with training. The Secretariat General of the Planning Council extended invitations to GCC Secretariat General to attend the workshop and coordination in extending invitations to GCC Ministries of Finance, Central Banks and Statistics Departments to nominate their candidates to the workshop. Alongside with the workshop, an executive conference for senior officials of GCC Ministries of Finance and Central Banks will be convened on 5 and 6 April with IMF delegation to discuss Challenges and Strategies for developing Government Finance Statistics in the GCC and future cooperation between IMF and GCC countries.

The Presentations that presented during the Workshop*:

The participants have agreed on the following:

02-02-2006

The Statistical Department Hosting the World Bank Expert to Evaluate the National Strategy of the Statistics

The Statistical Department of the General Secretariat of the Planning Council has hosted the World Banks expert Mr. Ronald Luttikhuizen in 20th-27th January 2006. The scope of this visit was to evaluate the achieved tasks of the Strategy team, formed by statistical Departments staff to create the National Strategy to Develop the Statistics, then suggest and recommend the next steps for the coming phases.

This important strategy aims to form a clear vision for the future of the statistical system in the country, putting in mind involve the concerned agencies who are a data and statistics producers to assure that these statistics are compatible with the international classifications and standards.
The strategy will cure the existing systems weakness and divert it to the right directions. With consideration that the strategy should be well suited with future national development policies.

30-01-2006

Updating Frames of 2004 Population Census

A massive statistical field work is currently being carried out, covering all areas and municipalities of the State. 100 field researchers, 16 team leaders and 3 supervisors started their task of updating the frames of 2004 Population Census, covering approximately 60,000 households. This operation will be carried out within a well planned coordination between the Planning Council, Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the National Health Authority.

Field workers will start enumerating building, dwellings, households and laborers gatherings in certain blocks which has been selected as a preparatory stage for conducting the Multi-purpose Survey.
Population frames, and specifically households, of 2004 Population Census will be updated in preparation for the final selection of samples to be closely studied for the purposes of the following surveys:
a- World Health Survey
b- Labor Force Survey
c- Households Income and Expenditure Survey
d- Households Debit Survey

This Multi-purpose Survey requires efforts and collaboration from everyone. The main responsibility to make this work a success lies on households, which has to recognize its role perfectly, through welcoming fieldworkers and providing them with the accurate information.

3-01-2006

The International Monetary Fund Announces Participation of Qatar In General Data Dissemination System (GDDS)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Friday 30 December 2005, on its website, official participation of Qatar in the general data dissemination system (GDDS).

GDDS, as an organized operation, aims to fulfill the statistical needs emerged from world economies globalization. Demand for diversified economic statistics raised to be foundation for management of macroeconomics, in addition to assisting member states to develop its statistical systems in the shadow of increased demand for useful, accurate and comprehensive statistics for developing policies and analysis. IMF supports such efforts by providing technical assistance and encouraging other sources to provide the same.

This announcement comes as result of the visit carried out by group of IMF experts, within a multi-sector mission composed of seven experts in the fields of national accounts, government finance statistics, balance of payments, prices and index numbers, foreign trade statistics, labor force and other financial and monetary statistics. A comprehensive review of the statistical systems in Qatar was carried out by this mission during 26 January ذ 8 February 2005. The mission convened meetings and interviews with officials and specialists at the Ministry of Finance, Qatar Central Bank, Doha Securities Market and the Secretariat General of the Planning Council.

It is noteworthy that Qatar is the first Country that participates in GDDS after implementation of Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) in preparing the metadata.

The Secretariat General of the Planning Council played vital and important role in hosting and managing the agenda of the multi-sector mission. The Secretariat General of the Planning Council organized and prepared meetings and interviews with officials and specialists in all concerned authorities, in addition to organizing a seminar on concepts and objectives of GDDS for representatives of concerned authorities. The Secretariat General of the Planning Council had an active role in the revision of its work with the multi-sector mission.

It is worth mentioning that GDDS is an organized operation committed by all member states voluntarily to perform long range improvements in data quality produced and disseminated by its statistical systems. GDDS works on developing statistical systems in a way reflecting the fact of participating countries. It as well urges countries to utilize sound statistical practices, methods and procedures in preparing economic, financial, social and demographic statistics.

The role of GDDS is to facilitate development of statistical systems of member states, by disseminating the metadata about statistical practices and development plans of countries participating in GDDS. GDDS works on strengthening communication and coordination between all authorities with statistical activities in the participating country.

Participation of Qatar and its metadata could be viewed on IMF website through the following link:
http://dsbb.imf.org/Applications/web/gdds/gddscountrycategorylist/?strcode=QAT
More information about GDDS are available on: http://dsbb.imf.org/Applications/web/gdds/gddswhatgdds