Qatari Newspapers Editorials

Doha, December 20 (QNA) - In their editorials on Tuesday, Qatari newspapers highlighted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issuing law No. 10 of 2022 approving the state's general budget for the fiscal year 2023. They agreed that the statements of the state's general budget for the next fiscal year confirms the continuation of the country's efforts to promote a comprehensive development process in the country. The newspapers stressed that the state attaches great importance to the human being as the main engine of the successful development process by increasing spending on education, scientific research and health care, as well as expanding projects that effect the Qatari society directly. They also noted that the State of Qatar continued to garner media attention and praise from various official and unofficial bodies and figures, including football fans, visitors and high-ranking officials after organizing the world's biggest tournament on Arab and Middle Eastern soil for the first time. Al-Sharq newspaper said in its editorial, that the statements of the state's general budget for the next fiscal year, which were approved by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, confirm previous expectations that the budget will continue with development projects and the achievements that were culminated with the historic organization and the impressive success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The newspaper indicated that this tournament added great economic value to development projects, noting that there was a surplus of 29 billion riyals , which will be directed towards strengthening the financial situation of the state, especially reducing the level of public debt and increasing financial reserves. It referred to the local revenue estimates in the fiscal year 2023 budget, which achieved significant growth amounting to 228 billion riyals. The budget provided positive indicators of economic growth that will be reflected in the performance of public finances, the Qatar Stock Exchange, and investment projects, by adopting an oil price at $65 a barrel for the year 2023 instead of $55 a barrel, as a result of the remarkable recovery in global energy prices during the current year. Al-Sharq stressed that social welfare and caring for citizens are priorities, as the State continued to focus on the health and education sectors, with allocations amounting to 21.1 billion riyals for the health sector and 18.1 billion riyals for the education sector. Al-Sharq concluded its editorial by saying that the organization of the World Cup signaled the start of reducing expenditures, which decreased by 2.6 percent from 2022, so that the focus will also continue on implementing major projects for 2023. Al-Watan newspaper also highlighted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issuing law No. 10 of 2022 approving the state's general budget for the fiscal year 2023, which total revenue estimates amounted to 228 billion riyals, an increase of 16.3 percent compared to the 2022 budget, while the expenditure estimates amount to 199 billion riyals with a budget surplus of 29 billion riyals. This increase in public revenues is mainly due to the adoption of an average oil price of $65 per barrel for the year 2023 instead of $55 per barrel, as a result of the remarkable recovery in global energy prices during the current year, in addition to the estimates of international institutions that energy prices will continue to rise over the medium term. The newspaper stressed that expenditures decreased by 2.6 percent from 2022, to reach 199 billion riyals, coinciding with the end of most costs related to hosting the World Cup, noting that the allocations for salaries and wages in the 2023 budget increased by 4.0 billion riyals from the year 2022 to reach 62.5 billion riyals, representing an increase of 6.3 percent. Al-Watan concluded by saying that the focus in the new budget was still on the health and education sectors, as 21.1 billion riyals were allocated to the health sector, while the education sector received 18.1 billion riyals. Al-Raya newspaper considered that the approval of the State's General Budget for Fiscal Year 2023, which came in conjunction with National Day celebrations, confirmed the state's continuous efforts towards promoting the comprehensive development process in the country, reflecting its commitment to implementing development projects in all sectors. The budget increase affirms the state's keenness to invest in people, qualify the youth to lead the future, continue achievements, and instill and develop the founder's values in future generations. HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issued law No. 10 of 2022 approving the state's general budget for the fiscal year 2023, confirming the great importance that the state attaches to humans as the main factor to a successful development process by increasing the allocated budget on education, scientific research and health care, as well as expanding pioneering projects whose effects are directly reflected in the Qatari society, the paper noted. Qatar, which is moving towards the future with pride and glory, with its achievements dazzled the world, especially after its successful and impressive organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, described as exceptional and the best edition in World Cup history, announced its General Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 on Monday. HE Minister of Finance revealed that the total revenue estimates in the fiscal year 2023 budget amount to QR 228 billion, a 16.3 percent increase compared to the 2022 budget estimates, the expenditure estimates reach QR 199 billion, and QR 29 billion budget surplus. Regarding the expenditures, HE said that the expenditures decrease by 2.6 percent, coinciding with the completion of most of the costs of hosting the World Cup, adding that the allocations for salaries and wages in the 2023 budget increased by QR 4.0 billion from 2022 to reach QR 62.5 billion, a 6.3 percent increase, the paper said. Al-Raya concluded its editorial by saying that Qatar, through its approval of the State's General Budget affirmed its commitment to sustainable development, where humans are the main driver. The country supported economic diversification and the promotion of economic growth through increasing allocations for major projects in the new budget, confirming the continued commitment to providing the necessary financial allocations to complete major projects in the health and education sectors. On the other hand, Al-Arab newspaper confirmed that the international news agencies and newspapers' praise of the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is another testimony that adorns Qatar's honorable record in hosting major international events. Qatar has continued to garner attention and media acclaim from various official and unofficial bodies and personalities, including football fans, visitors, and high-level officials alike by organizing the world's largest championship on Arab and Middle Eastern soil for the first time, the newspaper said. The paper commended the impressive organization and lofty messages sent by the State of Qatar on this global occasion, highlighting the authentic Arab values, traditions, and Islamic civilizational identity experienced by the masses who traveled from around the world to the state. This includes hospitality of citizens, security, safety, hospitality, tolerance, traditional appearances, beautiful atmosphere, traditional Qatari clothes that have become a common appearance for the World Cup fans, and other values that have won the respect of people worldwide. The biggest winner of the tournament is Qatar organizing the World Cup, a tournament that changed perceptions and elevated values and morals, and translated the meanings of humanity into joy expressed on the faces of young and old, including diaspora camps and disadvantaged areas by providing screens that enable them to watch the competitions that occupied the world, through fan zones set up in a number of countries. This had a good impact on the souls of refugees and displaced people, enabling them to enjoy the atmosphere of the World Cup despite the difficult conditions in the camps, considering it a symbolic initiative, but also confirms Qatar's success in achieving the principles of international peace and human solidarity, which its general policy of the state stems from, the paper pointed out. In turn, the English-language newspaper, The Peninsula, indicated that the tourism sector in Qatar is witnessing a remarkable recovery as the country welcomed more visitors from all over the world to attend major sporting tournaments and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. In its editorial titled "Tourism sector gets a boost," the newspaper said that Qatar is the fastest-growing tourist destination in the Middle East. The country aims to boost domestic spending on tourist destinations by three to four times, increase the contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the gross domestic product (GDP) from 7 percent to 12 percent, and double job opportunities in the tourism sector. Qatar Tourism’s strategy includes boosting the tourism value chain, growing local and international visitor demand, and attracting inward investment. The tourism body has launched several promotional campaigns. Most notably, a campaign to promote short vacation trips to Qatar and an educational campaign in cooperation with Qatar Foundation and Qatar University aimed at promoting Qatar as a center for world-class education, the paper explained. In conclusion, The Peninsula noted in its editorial that the World Cup is a unique opportunity to achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Over USD 220 billion has been spent on basic facilities such as roads, bridges, ports, airports, subways, housing, tourism, and free zones. This infrastructure will turn into big gains for Qatar as it will attract more foreign direct investment in the country in the long term. (QNA)