Qatar Stock Exchange participated in the Berlin Economic Forum 2014-24 held in the German capital on 8-10 November. The 2014 Annual Conference was concided with the Berlin celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The 2014 conference brought together over 300 world leaders in the fields of politics and economics together with senior academics and leading representatives from the private sector who travelled to Berlin from all corners of the world.
Rashid bin Ali Al-Mansoori, CEO of Qatar Stock Exchange, participated in the event which focused on the theme of “Sustainable Economies, Sustainable Technologies, Sustainable Industries” and the issue of “Economic Walls” that still exist today.
Al-Mansoori gave a speech during the event, entitled “Sustainability: The view from the floor of an emerging market stock exchange”. In his speech, Al-Mansoori reiterated the need for an action plan to achieve sustainable development, which focused on meeting the needs of future generations without compromising those of our current generation.
Al-Mansoori added that “while introducing the Qatar National Vision for 2030, HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani underlined the wisdom of balancing and building a bridge between the needs and interests of both present and future generations.” “Qatar has an unambiguous sustainable development plan which addresses social, environmental and economic factors in terms of the utilization of natural resources and also has a clear vision of the society it wishes to create. His Highness envisages a vibrant and prosperous country in which there is economic and social justice for all, and where nature and man are in harmony,” Al-Mansoori stated.
“The National Vision also provides guidance on the major challenges facing Qatar in pursuing the sustainable development agenda.
These include embracing modernization but preserving traditions and cultural heritage, recognizing the needs of the current generation without compromising those of future generations and embracing and encouraging economic growth without compromising social development and the environment,” Al-Mansoori added.
Al-Mansoori stressed the role of stock exchanges in promoting sustainability as an imperative by introducing and supporting initiatives which deal with Environmental, Social and Governance issues.
He stated that Qatar Stock Exchange is also very keen to encourage family owned and privately held companies, some of which are extremely large, to list their shares in order to achieve their own sustainability and contribute in achieving a sustainable economy.
“We are also conscious that to maintain our own relevance and influence, we must ourselves be sustainable as a business. We must ensure that our own corporate strategy is aligned with that of the State of Qatar, and that we continue to create value, diversify our revenues, invest in and develop our human and corporate capital so that we can continue to exert influence and act as an enabler for economic growth for the benefit of the country and its people.
We must also be mindful of our own environmental impact credentials, to ensure that we set an example to the business community,” Al-Mansoori highlighted.
“We know that Qatar Stock Exchange has an important role to play both now and in the future and we are excited by the challenges we face as an emerging market. We are conscious of the responsibilities we have in the development and promotion of the sustainability agenda in the State of Qatar,” Al-Mansoori concluded.
The Berlin Economic Forum 2014 is the worlds’ leading Sustainable Economies EXPO. The Forum featured several presentations, lectures and seminars held by leading corporations and chief experts within the field, consisting of panel discussions, workshops, interactive sessions and social activities.
The Berlin Economic Forum 2014 presented the myriad of opportunities offered by the emerging trends of sustainable economies, technologies and industries.
Qatar Stock Exchange was established in 1995, the Doha Securities Market (DSM) officially commenced operations in May 1997. Since then the Exchange has grown to become one of the leading stock markets in the GCC region and for two consecutive years (2010, 2011), was the best performing stock Exchange in the GCC. The DSM was later renamed the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE).
QSE currently has 43 listed companies and its market capitalization is over QR730 billion (US$200 billion). The primary aim of QSE is to support Qatar’s economy by giving investors a platform through which they can trade fairly and efficiently. QSE also provides the public with access to market information, ensures correct disclosure of information, and enforces securities regulations.
QSE is regulated by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority.
Source : Qatar News Agency
