GOIC celebrates its 40th anniversary

The Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) celebrated its 40th anniversary in a ceremony under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry, who attended the event along with renowned Gulf economists, industrialists and journalists at the Sheraton, Doha.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Bin Hamad Al-Ageel, GOIC Secretary General, delivered a speech in which he said: “GOIC’s 40th anniversary is a dear occasion to us all, for it reminds us of the foundation of this Organization that brought together many Gulf experts in the fields of consulting, studies, researches and data analysis. These elite professionals’ remarkable fingerprints are seen in GOIC’s achievements that could not have been possible without the efforts of GOIC’s staff, and could not have been crowned with success without their dedication.”

Mr. Al-Ageel added: “Over 40 years, these competent elites have proved their dedication and commitment to achieving various tasks in accordance with the highest standards and outstanding performance criteria. GOIC’s family was up to the challenge and raised the Organization’s name high in the world of industrial consulting services, thus transforming it into an industrial hub that is trusted and respected by decision makers in the GCC and the world.”

GOIC Secretary General reiterated that throughout these years, GOIC was capable of achieving a leading position as a trustworthy consulting institution cooperating with ministries, institutions, public and private companies, investors, entrepreneurs, concerned industrial parties and decision-makers. He said: “GOIC’s journey was filled with accomplishments and successes; it contributed to laying the groundwork of GCC industrial development and boosting economic growth in our beloved region.”

Mr. Al-Ageel continued: “We are honoured to follow the guidance of Their Majesties and Highnesses, leaders of GCC states, to strengthen mutual economic ties. Indeed, GOIC has always endeavoured to support member states and lay the foundations of economic integration in the GCC. Furthermore, GOIC’s fingerprint can be seen through many key achievements in the GCC industrial sector, such as the GCC Industrial Map Study published in June 2012 and prepared upon the request of the Secretariat-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Moreover, GOIC organized 15 Gulf Industrialists’ conferences that were regularly held throughout the GCC. The Organization put together dozens of investments opportunities that added up to successful and fruitful projects in the Gulf. In addition, GOIC kept developing its databases in order to become a valuable source of industrial information in the region. That was only a brief summary of the many studies, reports, forums and events organized by GOIC.”

His Excellency concluded: “On behalf of my colleagues, board members, former secretaries general, all employees of GOIC and myself, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the State of Qatar and its leadership, notably His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, our esteemed colleagues at the Ministry of Energy and Industry, particularly His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada for all their support throughout our long journey to promote the Gulf industrial sector. I would also like to congratulate the government and people of the state of Qatar on the national day, wishing them more progress, well-being and prosperity.”

Dr. Al-Sada

His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry then delivered a speech in which he said: “We are gathered here today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, the important industrial hub. The State of Qatar had a major contribution to the establishment of its first cornerstones when His Excellency late Sheikh Faisal Bin Thani Bin Jassem Al-Thani, Qatar’s former Minister of Industry and Agriculture, may his soul rest in peace, launched an initiative to establish the Organization in 1976. All GCC countries later joined His Excellency’s initiative to reflect their strong belief in this important industrial entity and its role to achieve industrial integration in the Gulf and their belief in the importance of the industrial sector to boost economic growth.”

Dr. Al-Sada added: “Throughout this long journey, GOIC has endeavoured to spread industrial knowledge, provide information and data and introduce industrial opportunities to be implemented by various countries in the region. GOIC fulfilled the requirements of many concerned parties like policy-makers, decision-makers, investors, researchers, students and journalists. In fact, the Organization used its extensive consulting expertise to introduce several industrial investment opportunities in various promising sectors, in addition to absent industries in the Gulf, to strengthen competitiveness of these countries in the region and the world.”

His Excellency explained: “The Ministry of Energy and Industry cooperated with GOIC to host several joint events. In fact, the Ministry has benefited a lot from GOIC’s services in the areas of data, statistics, investment opportunities and industrial workforce capacity building. This cooperation is the result of our deep confidence in GOIC, this expertise and knowledge hub, and valuable source of industrial information that continues to deploy efforts to stimulate and attract industrial investments.”

Dr. Al-Sada commended GOIC for its vital role in the preparation of a unified GCC industrial strategy and in carrying out several studies as tasked by the Industrial Cooperation Committee that has always been a beacon and guide to implement the visions of GCC leaders. “Thus, Qatar’s Ministry of Energy and Industry is always keen to coordinate with GOIC to deploy concerted efforts to promote and develop the industrial sector, which contributes to economic growth in Qatar and all over the GCC”, said Dr. Al-Sada.

His Excellency concluded: “I would like to thank GOIC for its efforts throughout these 40 years to promote the industrial sector in Qatar and the Gulf to meet the expectations of our beloved countries. I wish all of you at GOIC more development and success in everything you do to contribute to the development of the Gulf industrial sector.”

Honouring Ceremony

A documentary about GOIC, its history, key milestones and achievements was played. Afterwards, participants honoured late Sheikh Faisal Bin Thani Bin Jassem Al-Thani who was the first to think about establishing GOIC. His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Faisal Bin Thani Al-Thani received the remembrance shield.

In addition, GOIC honoured former secretaries-general who led the Organization since its foundation (in chronological order): HE Dr. Ali Bin Abdulrahman Al-Khalaf, HE late Dr. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Mejal, may his soul rest in peace, HE Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Jaafari, HE Dr. Ihsan Bou Haliqa, HE Mr. Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Muslim, HE Dr. Ahmed Khalil Al-Mutawa, HE Dr. Lolwa Bint Abdullah Al-Misnad and HE Mr. Abdulaziz Bin Hamad Al-Ageel.

Furthermore, GOIC remembered late Mr. Mamdouh Habra, former economic consultant, may his soul rest in peace, who passed away few weeks ago. In recognition of Mr. Habra’s achievements and great efforts, Mr. Tamam Mamdouh Habra received a shield.

GOIC also honoured the sponsors of the event: Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company (QIMC), the strategic sponsor, by offering Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Ansari, CEO of QIMC a shield; the economic zones partner MANATEQ, by presenting a shield to Mr. Mohamed Al-Malki, Planning and Business Development Director; and the media partner, Al-Sharq Newspaper, by offering a shield to deputy Editor-in-Chief Mr. Faleh Al-Hajri.

Finally, GOIC Secretary General Mr. Abdulaziz Bin Hamad Al-Ageel offered a presented a shield to His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry in recognition of his continuous support to GOIC’s activities and events.