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QAR 75.0 Billion Government
Stimulus to Private Sector in Statement by Supreme Committee for Crisis
Management
15 March 2020
HH the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
chaired the meeting of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management to
follow up on the recent developments and precautionary measures taken to
combat the spread of coronavirus COVID19.
His Highness addressed, during the meeting,
the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management to proceed with a bundle of
resolutions and measures in this connection. These are as follows:
1.
All incoming flights to Doha will stop
starting Wednesday 18 March and for renewable 14 days. Excluded from
that air cargo flights and transit flights. This is in addition to
receiving the Qatari citizens coming from any destination across the
world without specifying a time period provided a quarantine of 14 days
to be implemented. In regard to the Qatari students studying outside the
State of Qatar, the committee advised them to comply with the policies
applicable in the countries they are studying at. Simultaneously, the
respective Qatari embassies will be ready to provide any needed help for
those students including facilitating their travel to Qatar as
appropriate. QSCCM also advised the citizens and residents in Qatar to
avoid travel during the coming period.
2.
All public transport utilities, including
Metro service and Karwa busses will stop effective Sunday 10:00 pm.
3.
All of the following will be allowed to work
remotely: government employees above 55 age, pregnancy cases, persons
suffering from chronic diseases i.e. diabetes, cardio, kidneys and
hypertension.
4.
Distance education will apply in all
government schools starting Sunday 22 March 2020. Classes from first to
eleven will be subject to constant assessment. Grade twelve will be
subject to the general secondary exams in the set times and places which
will be announced later. With respect to the private sector schools,
distance education will start based on their academic calendar and their
respective applicable assessment systems.
5.
Package resolutions pertaining to the
economic and financial sector:
i.
HH the Amir, addressed for extending
financial support and stimulus of QAR 75 billion to the private sector.
ii.
The Central Bank will set the proper
mechanism to encourage the banks to postpone the loans installments and
the private sector’s liabilities with a grace period of six months.
iii.
Addressing Qatar Development Bank to delay
the installments for all lenders for six months.
iv.
Addressing the governmental funds to
increase their investments in the exchange by QAR 10 billion.
v.
The Central Bank to pump additional
liquidity to the banks operating in the country.
vi.
The exemption of food and medical items from
custom duties for a period of six months provided that to be reflected
on the sale price to the consumer.
vii.
The exemption of the following sectors from
the electricity and water fee for a period of six months:
a.
Hospitality & Tourism sector
b.
Retail sector
c.
Small and Medium industries sector
d.
Commercial compounds, against extending
services and waiver to tenants
e.
Logistic Zones sector
viii.
The exemption of the logistic zones and the
small and medium size industries from rentals payments for a period of
six months.
Knowing that the Supreme Committee for
Crisis Management and based on HH the Emir directives has commenced its
meeting on a continuous basis from the first day of the crisis presided
by H E Prime Minister And Minister of Interior, Their Excellency the
Ministers and in charge senior government officials from various
sectors.
The statement has also made clear that
education in the country was also suspended for all stages, with the
activation of distance education. Moreover,
social gatherings, sports events and public events have also been
cancelled. The entry from all ports is now subject to strict entry
measures. Entry of Wooden and tourist ships was also halted from various
seaports.
The Committee further requested all sectors
and institutions in the state, the citizens and the residents to
cooperate and abide by all the valid procedures and to take all
necessary precautions to successfully exceed this stage, and wished
everyone best of health and wellness.