Qatar's business efficiency ranks fifth globally: MoCI
Doha
Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Malki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, chaired the second quarterly performance review meeting for 2025, in the presence of assistant undersecretaries and departmental directors.
The meeting included a comprehensive review of the Ministry's key achievements in the second quarter, and an evaluation of overall performance in line with approved strategic plans. Among the notable accomplishments was the Ministry's winning of first place and the Golden Award in the National Cyber Drill 2024, organised by Qatar National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) under the theme 'Zero Hour'.
The reporting period also witnessed the launch of the national initiative for promoting local production and subsidising the supply of red meat during Eid Al-Adha. In parallel, the Ministry facilitated import procedures by lifting restrictions for specific commercial activities and launched the virtual assistant 'Saif'.
The Ministry also launched a public-private partnership project aimed at developing the beaches of West Bay and Al-Safliya Island, and adopted the Unified Economic Coding System (ISIC 4) for economic activities.
The meeting also assessed performance indicators across various sectors and administrative units. Indicators from the Industrial Affairs and Business Development Sector showed that the manufacturing sector's contribution to real GDP reached QAR 13.4 billion in the first quarter, an increase of 5.50 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
On the international front, the State of Qatar ranked fifth globally in the Business Efficiency Index and, for the first time, joined the top ten in the Global Competitiveness Index by securing ninth place.
National products recorded a growth rate of 7.17 percent in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with 70 new products added in the first half of the year.
Additionally, 160 factories obtained local value certificates. In the first quarter of 2025, 228 factories participated in export activities, generating a total export value of QAR 1.39 billion.
The second quarter also witnessed the establishment of 2,911 non-Qatari companies, representing an increase of 640 percent compared to the same quarter of 2024. The Ministry is currently reviewing nine public-private partnership projects, three of which were introduced in the second quarter.
In the Commerce Affairs Sector, the number of new commercial registrations increased by 103 percent compared to the second quarter of 2024.
A total of 5,777 main registrations and 851 branch registrations were issued, while active registrations rose by 15.66 percent.
This growth was supported by Ministerial Decision No. (60) of 2024, which reduced fees for services offered by the Ministry, and by the launch of a service enabling company formation by foreign investors from abroad with minimal requirements (a valid passport copy). These initiatives accelerated the fulfillment of target performance levels for new registrations during the quarter.
The number of active commercial licences rose by 2.04 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.
Meanwhile, the time required to process commercial registration services, reserve trade names, and issue commercial licences for investors was notably reduced.
On digital transformation, the Single Window platform was enhanced with five new electronic services in the second quarter, with 33 additional services scheduled for release later this year. The share of digital transactions conducted on the platform increased by 5.38 percent compared to the first quarter of 2025.
In the Consumer Affairs Sector, the average number of specialised licences issued rose by 34.32 percent compared to the second quarter of 2024.
This growth reflects the Ministry's ongoing efforts to reduce violations by intensifying inspection and awareness campaigns. Performance indicators revealed that 58,180 inspections were carried out in the second quarter, accounting for 62 percent of active commercial licences, and representing a 47 percent increase compared to the first quarter.
The meeting also reviewed safety levels of strategic reserves for supply commodities and animal feed.
In conclusion, the meeting discussed a range of issues and explored solutions to strengthen the implementation of plans, improve performance efficiency, and enhance the overall quality of the institutional performance.
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