São Paulo – Doha, the modern and cosmopolitan capital of Qatar, is even busier during the period in which it hosts the 2nd Summit of South American-Arab Countries (Aspa). The event brings together 34 countries, 12 South American and 22 Arab, most of them represented by their heads of state. Furthermore, the city also receives entrepreneurs for the Business Forum, which is held on the sidelines of the Aspa, at the Sharq Village Hotel – one of the most elegant in Doha.
In the last few years, Qatar has invested heavily in transforming the country’s infrastructure. "Doha is now a construction site, in which the modern and the traditional contrast with each other. The skyscrapers stand tall alongside the traditional ‘suqs’ (Arab markets), in a display of unrivalled beauty," says the Brazilian ambassador to Doha, Anuar Nahes.
The Qatar Vision 2030 project includes urbanism and infrastructure projects and is being implemented by a special secretariat for planning that specifically created in order to monitor this transformation project. "In addition to the structural work forecasted, strategies have also been outlined for protection in the environmental, educational and cultural areas – all of which are threatened by the natural results brought about by the fast-paced modernisation. The aim is precisely to provide sustainability to this ongoing transformation," explains Nahes.
The Qatari economy is based on production of oil, natural gas, steel, fertilisers and cement. The country has the world’s second largest liquefied natural gas reserves, plus 3.3 billion barrels of oil reserves, which, according to estimates, should be tapped over the next 25 years.
Safety may be considered one of the main features of Doha. The near-zero crime rate is limited to domestic issues or petty thefts. Traffic, however, is considered to be dangerous, because the city’s modern vehicles attain high speeds and the local population does not have the habit of wearing seatbelts. "This area has been the target of awareness campaigns that are gradually showing results," he explains.
Another feature of Doha that needs mentioning, according to Nahes, is the peaceful coexistence of the most varied cultures, which can be witnessed by taking a walk along the coastline or in one of city’s shopping centres. "One can see everything, from local Qatari families wearing typical attire to a Western woman walking around in garment that does not cover her body that much," he adds.
The Qatari ambassador to Brazil, Jamal Nasser Al-Bder, claims that modernity and technology are visible in the whole city. "Furthermore, it is an important cultural and commercial centre, and has excellent infrastructure for communicating with the outside world through its modern port, airport and telephone centrals. When the airplane lands in Qatar, you get a beautiful view of the capital Doha. The city’s landscapes, the clear water of the sea, the sandy background of the desert hint at the beauty that awaits you across the entire country," says Al-Bader.
Global stage
Qatar wants to become a territory capable of hosting large events. The 2006 Asian Games proved that the country is able to receive a large number of athletes. "Qatar failed to qualify Doha for the finals for hosting the 2016 Olympic Games, which made the Qatari very sad, and at the same time challenged them even further to show what they are capable of. The country has already announced its intention of competing to host the FIFA World Cup, in 2022", says the ambassador.
The capital is known for hosting sports events such as world championships for tennis, squash, golf, boat racing and motor racing. In February this year, the city hosted Tour of Qatar, a bicycling tournament counting on the presence of world champions.
In addition to the sports area, Qatar is often the place for regional and international conferences, such as the United Nations (UN) Conference on Financing for Development, held in November 2008. In 2001, Qatar hosted the international business round that became known ever since as the Doha round. The city received approximately 2,000 participants, and its Convention Centre was decorated as a replica of the UN General Assembly.
Aspa
According to ambassador Nahes, the main goal of the Aspa, results notwithstanding, is to keep alive the forum capable of periodically bringing together two regions that, despite being far removed from each other, have deep cultural and historic ties, which suffice to justify the existence of the summit. "One cannot talk about South America without considering the widespread contribution of the Arabs, especially the Syrian-Lebanese, to the construction of the cultural identity and the economy of the countries in the region," he underscores.
Besides, according to him, Aspa can be regarded as a true stimulus to a dormant business capacity. In economic terms, according to Nahes, these are two complementary regions: what is manufactured in South America is of interest to the Arab world and vice-versa. "In that regard, the event brings the two peoples together and leverages business deals, which have a de facto potential and are only awaiting encouragement. The promotion of Aspa is proof that the mechanism, suggested by Brazil, has a high chance of becoming a traditional summit for many generations to come,” he finishes off.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
