Qatar has approved the draft third National Development Strategy (“NDS3”). The NDS3 is the final stage in achieving the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, aiming to achieve sustainable development and improve the quality of life for future generations. To facilitate these goals, the NDS3 focuses on increasing competitiveness, enhancing innovation, and supporting institutional excellence while achieving a balance between sustainable growth and social cohesion.
Currently, Qatar seeks to accelerate economic growth by 4 percent until 2030 by expanding gas production and increasing economic diversification, potentially making the country one of the top 10 investor destinations in the world. Additionally, Qatar aims to increase its workforce productivity by 2 percent annually to raise the availability of highly skilled and high-wage jobs, thereby improving the proportion of skilled workers to 46 percent.
Rather than developing isolated sectoral policies, the NDS3 will enhance the government’s role by enabling the private sector to lead and drive economic growth and concentrate efforts on productivity, specialisation, and competition. The NDS3 also seeks to increase the Qatari workforce by 20 percent in both the private and public/private sectors by implementing programmes to develop skills in cooperation with the private sector and improving the benefits of higher education and its appeal to Qataris.
The NDS3 also significantly focuses on strengthening the family by expanding family policies that support procreation, supporting the institution of marriage, promoting positive parenting, increasing flexibility in women’s work, and raising the fertility rate. Another priority of the NDS3 is to increase awareness of and celebrate national identity, enhance the production and consumption of local cultural content, and promote a culture of responsibility and participation for all segments.
Further, the NDS3 promotes environmental sustainability and fulfilling the commitment outlined in the Qatar National Vision 2030 to preserve the environment for future generations.
