Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DOHA456
2006-03-26 13:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

DOHA ROUNDUP

Tags:  PREL ECON EINV ELAB KDEM PHUM PGOV INL SOCI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1901
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHDO #0456/01 0851312
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261312Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4552
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0298
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0215
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000456 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON EINV ELAB KDEM PHUM PGOV INL SOCI
QA
SUBJECT: DOHA ROUNDUP


DOHA 00000456 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000456

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON EINV ELAB KDEM PHUM PGOV INL SOCI
QA
SUBJECT: DOHA ROUNDUP


DOHA 00000456 001.2 OF 002



1. Topics:
--------------

-Energy & Economy, paragraphs 2-4
-Labor, para. 5
-Civil Society, para. 6
-Drug Abuse, para. 7

--------------
Launch of Energy City Qatar
--------------


2. Hailed as the Middle East's first energy business hub,
Energy City Qatar (ECQ),was officially launched March 21
under the patronage of the Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al
Thani, at a ceremony in Doha. The Prime Minister, Sheikh
Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, presided over the event. A
pioneering initiative, ECQ will be the Gulf's first
hydrocarbon industry business center. ECQ will be a single
point of access to markets and expertise, the Middle East
home for global players in the hydrocarbon value chain.
Envisioned by Gulf Energy, ECQ aims to attract industry
leaders in oil and gas production, international oil
companies, national oil companies, support services,
infrastructure and downstream activities, shipping and
trading, market and resource data, intellectual property and
energy trading.


3. The Middle East accounts for over 60 per cent of the
world's proven oil reserves and over 40 per cent of the
world's natural gas reserves. However, the region doesn't
have a dedicated energy business center. ECQ was conceived
with the central aim of filling this void and positively
contributing to the economic development of Qatar and the
region. ECQ will be the Middle East's first full-service
energy business center catering to the commercial, technical
and human resource needs of the oil and gas industry
operating in the regions, with cutting-edge facilities and
services. It will also be home to a dedicated energy trading
platform, the International Mercantile Exchange (IMEX),which
will be regulated by the Qatar Financial Center Regulatory
Authority.

--------------
Qatar GDP Expected to Grow by 27.2%
--------------


4. Higher liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil production and

very favorable energy prices will lift Qatar's economy
significantly this year. Government economic figures indicate
Qatar's GDP is projected to grow by 27.2% in 2006,
translating into a GDP per capita of $43,618 in 2006. Qatar's
LNG exports soared 28% between 2003 and 2005 and totaled 24
million tons last year. Qatargas and RasGas's new production
lines at Ras Laffan have lifted Qatar's LNG output. Qatar
currently ranks second to Indonesia in LNG supplies; in 2012
Qatar will overtake Indonesia and become the world's largest
LNG exporter. LNG output will exceed 77 million tons in 2012.
Qatar has invested more than $60 billion into projects to tap
its mammoth offshore North Field, the world's largest
reservoir of non-associated gas. In the next five years, more
than half of that sum will be pumped into new LNG units and
expansion projects to reach that target. Qatar Petroleum has
allocated nearly $33.5 billion in its five-year plan that was
kicked off in 2005 for LNG and piped gas projects. Second
Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, Abdullah
bin Hamad al-Attiyah, said Qatar is becoming the dominant LNG
exporter in the world and its gas production capacity was set
to rise to 25 billion cubic feet per day after the completion
of the giant projects under construction.

-------------- ---
Regional Indian Ambassadors Discuss Labor Issues
-------------- ---


5. At the annual meeting of Indian ambassadors from the GCC
countries, labor issues took cener stage. Mission chiefs
discussed the numerous roblems faced by their nationals in
the Gulf countries. In response to the numerous concerns
raise, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Rav
proposed measures to halt the mistreatment of low-waged
Indian workers in the Gulf. Various proposals included:
instituting stringent regulations to curb the illegal
recruitment of workers from India; requiring that all job
contracts involving unskilled and semi-skilled workers be
officially verified by Indian missions in the respective
countries; amending the Indian Emigration Act of 1983 to
empower state governments in India to prosecute unlicensed
recruiting agents and those practicing illegally; and
briefing workers on prevailing labor situation in host

DOHA 00000456 002.2 OF 002


country prior to their arrival. Also of special concern were
the problem of Indian domestic workers in the Gulf,
particularly housemaids, and other workers who languish in
local jails for committing minor crimes, and sponsors
withholding workers' passports.

--------------
In the Absence of NGOs... CSOs
--------------


6. At a two-day National Dialogue on Civil Society organized
by the UN Special Rapporteur for People with Special needs
participants debated the role and effectiveness of civil
society organizations (CSOs). Addressing participants, Dr.
Ghalia bint Mohamed al-Thani, chairperson of the National
Health Authority board, stated that Qatar had the required
potential to have an active and growing civil society and
gatherings such as the two-day dialogue represented the first
step in a process of positive interaction and in promoting an
environment conducive to the evolution of civil society
organizations. In commenting on the weakness of civil society
in the Arab world, UN Special Rapporteur for People with
Special Needs Sheikha Hessa Bint Khalifa bin Ahmad al-Thani
cited the relationship between the individual and state as a
primary cause. Specifically, Sheikha Hessa pointed to the
lack of democracy and freedom for these organizations to
operate and develop. Participants also discussed the growing
need for civil society organizations to provide assistance
and services in the absence of active NGOs. CSOs, which
encompass a broader array of organizations, e.g., community
groups, labor unions, charitable organizations, faith-based
organizations, professional associations, foundations and the
like, are needed to fill the void in countries with fledging,
if any NGOs.

--------------
Qatar's Efforts at Addressing Drug Addiction
--------------


7. The Youth Department of the Supreme Council for Family
Affairs (SCFA) in coordination with the United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently concluded a three-day
workshop on drug prevention. Experts and officials working in
the field of prevention and treatment of addiction and
substance abuse attended the workshop. Citing recent studies
on drug addiction, Regional Epidemiology Advisor at UNODC
told participants that the number of drug addicts among
teenagers is on the rise in the Gulf region and that the
region was at risk for the spread of diseases such as AIDS.
In the case of Qatar, preliminary studies conducted by the
SCFA have shown that drug addiction is a serious problem
among nationals, especially young people and women. Drugs
include hashish, heroin, and opium. While the magnitude of
the problem is still unknown, according to Mariam Al-Hajri,
head of the Youth Department, the SCFA has decided to
establish a rehabilitation center for drug addicts to address
the serious problem of drug addiction and misuse in the
country. The center will include a research center, along
with therapeutic and detoxification facilities and will
service nationals as well as expatriates.
UNTERMEYER