Doha, Qatar – Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future (Earthna), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) launched a new collaborative report, 'Industrial Policies for Economic Diversification in Qatar: A Research and Policy Agenda', during a session hosted at the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council Pavilion on 4 February at Web Summit Qatar, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

The report outlines a research and policy agenda to support Qatar’s economic diversification ambitions through industrial policy aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and the Qatar National Manufacturing Strategy 2024-2030. It emphasizes the role of industrial policy in advancing export diversification, productivity growth, innovation, and climate-compatible development, particularly as Qatar works toward its Nationally Determined Contribution target of a 25 percent reduction in emissions by 2030.

Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director of Earthna, said: “Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy offers a strategic platform for targeted industrial policies that advance sustainable economic growth and diversification through priority growth clusters and enabling reforms. To be effective, industrial policy must be co-designed with stakeholders, selective, and institutionally robust. This report lays the groundwork for structured engagement to develop robust programs that build on global best practices to support Qatar’s economic diversification agenda.”

Gunther Beger, Managing Director of the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, UNIDO, said: “Industrial policies can be the engine of a new era of prosperity, one that reconciles competitiveness with sustainability and inclusiveness. To achieve this, we need strong partnerships; governments, private sector leaders, and international organizations working together to mobilize investment, share knowledge, and scale innovation.

UNIDO stands ready to support governments and private sector partners in designing policies that enable industries, empower SMEs, and advance technologies for a climate-conscious, sustainable development future. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities, amplify impact, and position the Gulf as a hub for sustainable industrialization.”

The report explores how Qatar can leverage industrial policy to build on an existing and evolving industrial base, new technologies and manufacturing strategies, and benefit from the income of its vast natural resources. The report also highlights Qatar’s strong vision for economic development as articulated in its National Development Strategies. Qatar’s unique position and financial independence mean it can reinvest its natural resources revenues into the green and blue economy to complement its diversification programs.

To enable this shift, the report recommends embedding industrial policy more firmly within NDS3 and increasing the evidence base to help identify priority sectors geared toward international markets and mechanisms for strengthening public-private partnerships. The report also recommends leveraging institutions such as the QRDI Council and the Qatar Development Bank to mobilise investment, scale innovation, and address the skills gaps needed to develop a diversified, export-oriented economy.

Earthna  

Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future (Earthna) is a non-profit policy, research, and advocacy organization, established by Qatar Foundation (QF) to promote and enable a coordinated approach to environmental, social, and economic sustainability and prosperity.  

Earthna is a facilitator of sustainability efforts and action in Qatar and other hot and arid countries, focusing on sustainability frameworks, circular economies, energy transition, climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems, cities and the built environment, and education, ethics, and faith. By bringing together technical experts, researchers, government and non-government organizations, businesses, civil society, and policy and decision-makers, Earthna fosters collaboration, innovation, and positive change.  

Using their home—Education City—as a testbed, Earthna develops and trials sustainable solutions and evidence-based policies for Qatar and hot and arid regions. The organization is committed to combining modern thinking with traditional knowledge, contributing to the well-being of society by creating a legacy of sustainability within a thriving natural environment. 

For more information about Earthna please visit: earthna.qa  
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Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential  

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, research and development, and community development.  

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development. 

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.  

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa  
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For any media inquiries, please contact: pressoffice@qf.org.qa  

UNIDO - Progress by Innovation

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the UN’s specialized agency that promotes inclusive and sustainable industrial development. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9, UNIDO’s mission drives results that contribute to all the SDGs. UNIDO envisions a world without poverty and hunger, where industry drives low-emission economies and improves living standards, leaving no one behind.

UNIDO’s key priorities include supporting sustainable supply chains, combating climate breakdown using renewable energy and energy efficiency, and strengthening agribusinesses to end hunger. All three priorities involve activities that contribute to job creation, while advancing cross-cutting themes including technology and knowledge transfer, digitalization, investment promotion, training and skills development, the circular economy, and women’s economic empowerment.

For more information about UNIDO please visit https://www.unido.org/
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For more information about the report, please contact: Aymen Ahmed, Senior Programme Officer at A.Ahmed@unido.org