Qatar official calls for peace and security to boost trade, investment

Speaking at the World Investment Forum in Doha, state minister says peace and security are essential for trade and investment prosperity.

Skyline, Doha, Qatar [Showkat Shafi/ Al Jazeera]

Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Ahmad bin Mohammed al-Sayed has called for greater international cooperation and economic stability, warning that trade and investment cannot flourish without peace and security.

Speaking at the United Nations-led World Investment Forum in Doha on Sunday, al-Sayed said geopolitical upheaval and growing economic fragmentation were threatening global investment prospects.

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“The global economy is undergoing changes. There are geopolitical changes. These are all issues that redefine the landscape of global investment,” he said.

“We believe that investment in the future is related to investment in peace and security,” the minister added.

“Trade will prosper, and long-term investment will create its potential only with a safe and stable environment.”

Organised by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Investment Forum brings together heads of state, policymakers, CEOs and investors to discuss global investment, opportunities, challenges and sustainable development.

Al-Sayed’s remarks come as several conflicts continue to rage around the world, and with growing fears of an escalation in the US-Israel war on Iran in the coming weeks.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, has been disrupted since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28. Iran responded by effectively blocking the strait and attacking targets across the region.

Prior to the war, one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas flowed through the strait.

In the past week, escalating attacks on shipping in the strait and uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to end the nearly eight-month war have led to a surge in oil prices, putting further pressure on the global economy.

On Thursday, oil prices climbed about 4 percent to a five-month high, with Brent futures crossing $113.17 a barrel.

‘Further cooperation, less isolation’

Al-Sayed stressed the need for predictable international rules and stronger economic partnerships at a time of heightened uncertainty.

“In our world, which is facing further uncertainty and economic fragmentation, our message stays clear. It is a call for further cooperation and less isolation, further cooperation and less division,” he said.

Iranian strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial complex in March damaged facilities, with repairs expected to take several years.

The minister outlined Qatar’s efforts to strengthen supply chains, diversify economic partnerships and “open new markets for our exports”.

He said Qatar attracted 373 foreign direct investment projects in 2025, a 50 percent increase from the previous year, generating more than 15,000 jobs.

Qatar has also unveiled infrastructure projects worth $38.5bn over the next five years, alongside an anticipated $22.5bn in private sector investment in hospitality and real estate, al-Sayed added.

这位国务部长在多哈世界投资论坛上发表讲话时表示，和平与安全对于贸易和投资繁荣至关重要。

卡塔尔多哈天际线 [Showkat Shafi/ 半岛电视台]

卡塔尔外贸事务国务大臣艾哈迈德·本·穆罕默德·赛义德呼吁加强国际合作和经济稳定，并警告说，没有和平与安全，贸易和投资就无法蓬勃发展。

周日，赛义德在多哈举行的联合国世界投资论坛上发表讲话时表示，地缘政治动荡和日益加剧的经济分裂正在威胁全球投资前景。

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“全球经济正在经历变革，地缘政治格局也在发生变化。所有这些因素都在重新定义全球投资格局，”他说道。

部长补充说：“我们认为，对未来的投资与对和平与安全的投资息息相关。”

“只有在安全稳定的环境下，贸易才能繁荣发展，长期投资才能充分发挥其潜力。”

由联合国贸易和发展会议（贸发会议）主办的世界投资论坛汇聚了各国元首、政策制定者、首席执行官和投资者，共同探讨全球投资、机遇、挑战和可持续发展。

赛义德发表这番言论之际，世界各地多起冲突仍在持续，人们越来越担心未来几周美国和以色列对伊朗的战争会升级。

自美国和以色列于2月28日发动战争以来，途经霍尔木兹海峡（全球石油和液化天然气运输的重要水道）的航运一直受到干扰。伊朗的回应是有效地封锁了该海峡，并袭击了该地区的各个目标。

战前，全球五分之一的石油和天然气贸易都要经过该海峡。

过去一周，海峡中针对船只的袭击事件不断升级，以及结束这场持续近八个月战争的外交努力前景不明朗，导致油价飙升，给全球经济带来进一步压力。

周四，油价上涨约 4%，达到五个月来的最高点，布伦特原油期货价格突破每桶 113.17 美元。

“加强合作，减少孤立”

赛义德强调，在当前高度不确定的时期，需要可预测的国际规则和更强大的经济伙伴关系。

他说：“在我们这个面临更多不确定性和经济分裂的世界里，我们的信息依然明确。那就是呼吁加强合作，减少孤立；加强合作，减少分裂。”

今年3月，伊朗对卡塔尔拉斯拉凡工业园区发动袭击，造成设施受损，预计修复工作需要数年时间。

这位部长概述了卡塔尔为加强供应链、实现经济伙伴关系多元化以及“为我们的出口开辟新市场”所做的努力。

他表示，卡塔尔在2025年吸引了373个外国直接投资项目，比上一年增长了50%，创造了超过15000个就业岗位。

卡塔尔还公布了未来五年价值 385 亿美元的基础设施项目，同时预计私营部门将在酒店和房地产领域投资 225 亿美元，赛义德补充道。