‘Commercial Law in Transition’
conference was opened by Justice
Minister HE Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanem:
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A
two-day regional conference on
‘Commercial Law in Transition’ was
opened, Monday 13/3/2006, by Justice
Minister HE Hassan bin Abdullah
al-Ghanem.
In his inaugural address, the
minister hoped that the
participating experts would
contribute substantially to the
ongoing discussions on transitions
in trade-related laws. |
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HE Hassan
bin Abdullah al-Ghanem |
“The aim should be to develop best
possible legal frameworks for trade,
business and commercial activities,
and to create a conducive
environment for trade co-operation
on the international level,” he
said.
Speaking on the occasion, US
Ambassador Chase Untermeyer said
that a vibrant economy had to be
supported by access to education,
equality of opportunity, legal
protections, and effective
enforcement of laws.
“These are the crucial success
factors that helped transform the
weak former communist economies of
Central and Eastern Europe into
vibrant marketplaces that now
attract investments, create jobs,
and fuel economic growth,” he
explained.
Pointing out that these reforms also
worked to promote greater freedom
and equal opportunity, the envoy
expressed hope that the countries of
the Middle East can, and should also
initiate reforms to create an
environment that enables the growth
and opportunity.
“Qatar has long been a pioneer in
this regard and continues to move
along this path in a steady upward
trajectory, beginning the work of
recognising and addressing the
concerns and priorities of
investors, both native and foreign,”
he said.
Earlier in his address, Untermeyer
said that the conference would
discuss important regional and
international legal topics related
to commercial laws, trade
liberalisation, foreign investment,
e-commerce, financial transactions
and public procurement.
“The topics in this conference are
important because they address legal
topics that all of our countries
face as we adapt to the global
economy,” he said.
As commerce continues to flow
through the Middle East, the US, and
the world, all the countries are
working to develop legal systems
that can support the interaction of
international businesses in cross
border transactions.
The conference, organised by the
Justice Ministry in collaboration
with the Ministry of Economy and
Commerce, is sponsored by the Middle
East Partnership Initiative (MEPI),
the Bush administration’s response
to calls for change from within the
Middle East.
The presidential initiative, created
in 2002 and funded with bipartisan
support from the US Congress, has
brought the resources, experience,
and determination of the US to bear
in an effort to support the reform
movement in the Middle East.
MEPI is structured in four reform
areas: political, economic,
education, and women’s empowerment.
The conference is funded under
MEPI’s economic pillar and is a
joint effort between the Qatar
Government and the US Government to
address commercial law topics that
are of pressing importance as the
economies of both the countries
transition into the larger global
economy.
As part of the same initiative,
MEPI’s Commercial Law Development
Programme (CLDP) is advising Qatari
government officials regarding the
revision of Qatar’s commercial code,
with particular focus on foreign
investment law.
CLDP staff is also working with the
Qatar University College of Law to
assist in the development of a
commercial law curriculum.
The conference is being attended by
delegates from Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE,
and Yemen..
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