15 Dec 2016 

Prime Minister and Interior  Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday opened the single window project for investor services at the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce in Lusail City.

The project, which comes under the directives of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani aims to remove possible bureaucratic obstacles facing investment and unify ministerial procedures for the citizens and investors by providing a single window service.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by several ministers, prominent Qatari businessmen and other dignitaries.

The project is one of the most important governmental initiatives to develop the business environment, stimulate the real participation of the private sector and encourage local and foreign investments, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Investors will be able to accomplish some of the transactions related to starting business activities and get immediate approval without visiting or waiting for competent authorities.

The single window service is based at the ministry’s headquarter. In order to save time and efforts, investors have been advised to take prior appointment over phone.

The Prime Minister yesterday issued Decision No. 23 of 2016 to form the coordinating committee for the single window system management, which will function under the State Cabinet.

The committee will coordinate with all government agencies on providing the single window services and provide all administrative and technical services necessary to facilitate the services. It will implement a comprehensive quality concept to improve performance and raise the level of services and study complaints and suggestions of reviewers in coordination with the competent units and authorities and take the necessary action.

Committee to oversee single window system

The committee will develop clear indicators for measuring the level of quality and periodic evaluation of the services provided for the single window by all stakeholders.

It will coordinate with the competent authorities and relevant authorities to simplify and develop all procedures relating to the services provided and set a timeline for them.

The committee will be chaired by a representative of the Prime Minister’s Office and have a representative each from the following agencies as members: Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Energy and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI).

The designation of the committee's chairman and members will be the subject to a decision of the Prime Minister.

An employee or more shall be in charge of the committee's Secretariat, whose designation and determination of terms of references shall be made according to a decision of the committee's chairman.

The decision also stipulates that the committee shall establish a system of work including venue and dates of its meetings along with the rules for the exercise of its terms of reference.

The committee shall form among its members or others sub-committees to assist it in performing its functions or to designate whom it considers suitable among its members or others to examine any of the issues that fall within its terms of reference.

The committee shall cooperate with employees of Ministries and other government agencies or other qualified and experienced staff to provide it with the required advice, statements or explanations.

All parties shall be committed to submit to the committee the information and data needed to perform its work and cooperate with it within its terms of reference. The decision also stipulates that the committee shall submit periodic reports on the results of its work, proposals and recommendations to the Prime Minister. The decision shall go into force from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette.

© The Peninsula 2016