Date of Entry: October 16, 2002
National Holiday: September 3, 1971
Type of Government: Traditional Monarchy
Permanent Observer: Ambassador Mohamed Bin Abdulla Al-Rumaihi
Emir (Chief of State): His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabr al-Thani
Deputy Prime Minister: Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr-Al-Thani
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs: Ahmad bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud
Director of European & American Development: Adel Ali Al Khal
Areas of Cooperation: N/A
ECONOMIC INDICATORS / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011Population (in millions) / 1.226 / 1.448 / 1.639 / 1.7 / 1.8
GDP (US$ in billions) / 80.751 / 110.712 / 98.313 / 129.485 / 173.2
GDP per capita (US$) / 65,853.90 / 76,435.37 / 59,989.82 / 76,167.85 / 109,881
GDP, PPP (Current International Dollar in billions) / 91.27 / 116.977 / 128.255 / 150.55 / 181.7
GDP growth (annual %) / 26.759 / 25.424 / 8.646 / 15.964 / 18.7
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OAS:
Year / Project / Cash Contributions / In-Kind Contributions2005 / Art Museum of the Americas / $ 10,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $ 10,000.00
2009 / Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions – Secretariat for Political Affairs - The Peace Fund / $ 10,000.00
Department of Human Development – Secretariat for Integral Development – OAS Professional Development Scholarships / $ 10,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $ 20,000.00
2010 / Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions – Secretariat for Political Affairs - The Peace Fund / $ 20,000.00
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Human Development, Education and Culture – – Professional Development Taining – Strengthening of Democratic Institutions – 2 Scholarships / $ 2,340
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Human Development, Education and Culture –Professional Development Training – Economic Diversification and Integration, Trade Liberalization and Market Access – 1 Scholarship / $ 2,100
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Human Development, Education and Culture –Professional Development Training – Strengthening of Democratic Institutions – 2 Scholarships / $ 2,340
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Human Development, Education and Culture – Professional Development Training – Sustainable Development of Tourism – 1 Scholarship / $ 2,100
SUBTOTAL / $ 20,000.00 / $ 8,880
2011 / Secretariat for External Relations / Art Museum of the Americas – Youth Orchestra Program / $ 10,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $ 10,000.00
TOTAL / $ 60,000.00 / $ 8,880
ANNUAL FOREIGN AID FUND:
Qatar is a signatory party to the Millennium Development Goals. The country is attempting to promote modernization and investment within its own borders; therefore there is no established development aid budget for foreign cooperation. Qatar does participate in bilateral agreements with several regional and European countries to increase investment in the country and vice-versa, so the country’s development program is seen through these agreements.
ANNUAL FOREIGN AID FUND:
Qatar’s development agency – the General Secretariat for Development Planning – is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of Qatar’s development program. Because Qatar is an economy in transition, they have yet to establish a formal agency or program for foreign development cooperation. On the other hand, Qatar works with multilateral agencies on this subject. For example, the country works with several UN agencies such as the International Foundation for Agricultural Development on extending opportunities for rural youth employment and rural finance in the Near East and North Africa region.
FOREIGN POLICY:
Qatar constantly endeavors to provide assistance and financial help to developing countries in Asia and Africa, as well as participation in various regional and international development funds to serve international cooperation at the broadest possible level. Qatar rejects and condemns all forms and aspects of terrorism in all its manifestations and all its forms and means, while stressing the need to distinguish between terrorism and peoples' struggle and legitimate right to gain freedom and self-determination in accordance with the rules of international law. In addition, Qatar welcomes all agreements to settle such disputes and supports the efforts of regional and international organizations to bring about peace in numerous countries and regions to guarantee peoples' security and their stability in the whole world. As regards humanitarian assistance, Qatar has extended financial, medical and in kind assistance to several Arab countries.
RELATIONS WITH THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE:
Qatar holds formal diplomatic missions in most Latin American countries. Relations between the country and the region are solid, and there have been no reported disputes between any Latin American or Caribbean country and Qatar. Qatar holds several bilateral agreements with Latin American nations, such as Venezuela and Brazil. These agreements are generally technical agreements for the transfer of technology, information and real estate exchange.
Brazil:
· Brazil opened its embassy in Doha in 2005.
· Qatar opened its embassy in Brasilia in 2007
· There are four groups of Brazilian residents in Qatar: The soccer players, those working for Qatar Airways, those working for the hospitality sector and those in the energy sector.”
United States:
· The U.S. embassy was opened in March 1973. The first resident U.S. ambassador arrived in July 1974.
· Ties between the U.S. and Qatar are excellent.
· Amir Hamad last visited Washington in 2004, and President Bush visited Qatar in 2003.
· Qatar and the United States coordinate closely on regional diplomatic initiatives, cooperate to increase security in the Gulf, and enjoy extensive economic links, especially in the hydrocarbons sector. Qatar sees the development of a world-class educational system as key to its continued success.
· Hundreds of Qataris study in the United States. Cornell University has established a degree-granting branch medical school campus in Doha, and other universities including Texas A&M, Carnegie Mellon University, the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Design, the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, and Northwestern also have branch campuses in Qatar's "Education City" complex.
· Qatar supports the march of peace in the Middle East, because it believes in the need for comprehensive and just peace for all peoples of the region to attain their aspiration for progress and development.
SOURCES:
OAS | Department of International Affairs | 2
Organization of American States
http://www.oas.org
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar
http://www.english.mofa.gov.qa
The General Secretariat for Development Planning, Qatar
http://www.planning.gov.qa/
The World Bank
http://www.worldbank.org
Embassy of Qatar in the United States
http://www.qatarembassy.net
International Monetary Fund
http://www.imf.org
OAS | Department of International Affairs | 2
This page was last updated on April 9, 2012
OAS | Department of International Affairs | 2