VZCZCXRO1901
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHDO #0456/01 0851312
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261312Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4552
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0298
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0215

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000456 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ECON EINV ELAB KDEM PHUM PGOV INL SOCI
QA 
SUBJECT: DOHA ROUNDUP 
 
 
DOHA 00000456  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Topics: 
----------- 
 
-Energy & Economy, paragraphs 2-4 
-Labor, para. 5 
-Civil Society, para. 6 
-Drug Abuse, para. 7 
 
--------------------------- 
Launch of Energy City Qatar 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. Hailed as the Middle East's first energy business hub, 
Energy City Qatar (ECQ), was officially launched March 21 
under the patronage of the Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al 
Thani, at a ceremony in Doha. The Prime Minister, Sheikh 
Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, presided over the event. A 
pioneering initiative, ECQ will be the Gulf's first 
hydrocarbon industry business center. ECQ will be a single 
point of access to markets and expertise, the Middle East 
home for global players in the hydrocarbon value chain. 
Envisioned by Gulf Energy, ECQ aims to attract industry 
leaders in oil and gas production, international oil 
companies, national oil companies, support services, 
infrastructure and downstream activities, shipping and 
trading, market and resource data, intellectual property and 
energy trading. 
 
¶3. The Middle East accounts for over 60 per cent of the 
world's proven oil reserves and over 40 per cent of the 
world's natural gas reserves. However, the region doesn't 
have a dedicated energy business center. ECQ was conceived 
with the central aim of filling this void and positively 
contributing to the economic development of Qatar and the 
region. ECQ will be the Middle East's first full-service 
energy business center catering to the commercial, technical 
and human resource needs of the oil and gas industry 
operating in the regions, with cutting-edge facilities and 
services. It will also be home to a dedicated energy trading 
platform, the International Mercantile Exchange (IMEX), which 
will be regulated by the Qatar Financial Center Regulatory 
Authority. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Qatar GDP Expected to Grow by 27.2% 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4. Higher liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil production and 
very favorable energy prices will lift Qatar's economy 
significantly this year. Government economic figures indicate 
Qatar's GDP is projected to grow by 27.2% in 2006, 
translating into a GDP per capita of $43,618 in 2006. Qatar's 
LNG exports soared 28% between 2003 and 2005 and totaled 24 
million tons last year. Qatargas and RasGas's new production 
lines at Ras Laffan have lifted Qatar's LNG output. Qatar 
currently ranks second to Indonesia in LNG supplies; in 2012 
Qatar will overtake Indonesia and become the world's largest 
LNG exporter. LNG output will exceed 77 million tons in 2012. 
Qatar has invested more than $60 billion into projects to tap 
its mammoth offshore North Field, the world's largest 
reservoir of non-associated gas. In the next five years, more 
than half of that sum will be pumped into new LNG units and 
expansion projects to reach that target. Qatar Petroleum has 
allocated nearly $33.5 billion in its five-year plan that was 
kicked off in 2005 for LNG and piped gas projects. Second 
Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, Abdullah 
bin Hamad al-Attiyah, said Qatar is becoming the dominant LNG 
exporter in the world and its gas production capacity was set 
to rise to 25 billion cubic feet per day after the completion 
of the giant projects under construction. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Regional Indian Ambassadors Discuss Labor Issues 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5. At the annual meeting of Indian ambassadors from the GCC 
countries, labor issues took cener stage. Mission chiefs 
discussed the numerous roblems faced by their nationals in 
the Gulf countries. In response to the numerous concerns 
raise, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Rav 
proposed measures to halt the mistreatment of low-waged 
Indian workers in the Gulf. Various proposals included: 
instituting stringent regulations to curb the illegal 
recruitment of workers from India; requiring that all job 
contracts involving unskilled and semi-skilled workers be 
officially verified by Indian missions in the respective 
countries; amending the Indian Emigration Act of 1983 to 
empower state governments in India to prosecute unlicensed 
recruiting agents and those practicing illegally; and 
briefing workers on prevailing labor situation in host 
 
DOHA 00000456  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
country prior to their arrival. Also of special concern were 
the problem of Indian domestic workers in the Gulf, 
particularly housemaids, and other workers who languish in 
local jails for committing minor crimes, and sponsors 
withholding workers' passports. 
 
------------------------------ 
In the Absence of NGOs... CSOs 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6. At a two-day National Dialogue on Civil Society organized 
by the UN Special Rapporteur for People with Special needs 
participants debated the role and effectiveness of civil 
society organizations (CSOs).  Addressing participants, Dr. 
Ghalia bint Mohamed al-Thani, chairperson of the National 
Health Authority board, stated that Qatar had the required 
potential to have an active and growing civil society and 
gatherings such as the two-day dialogue represented the first 
step in a process of positive interaction and in promoting an 
environment conducive to the evolution of civil society 
organizations. In commenting on the weakness of civil society 
in the Arab world, UN Special Rapporteur for People with 
Special Needs Sheikha Hessa Bint Khalifa bin Ahmad al-Thani 
cited the relationship between the individual and state as a 
primary cause. Specifically, Sheikha Hessa pointed to the 
lack of democracy and freedom for these organizations to 
operate and develop. Participants also discussed the growing 
need for civil society organizations to provide assistance 
and services in the absence of active NGOs. CSOs, which 
encompass a broader array of organizations, e.g., community 
groups, labor unions, charitable organizations, faith-based 
organizations, professional associations, foundations and the 
like, are needed to fill the void in countries with fledging, 
if any NGOs. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Qatar's Efforts at Addressing Drug Addiction 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. The Youth Department of the Supreme Council for Family 
Affairs (SCFA) in coordination with the United Nations Office 
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently concluded a three-day 
workshop on drug prevention. Experts and officials working in 
the field of prevention and treatment of addiction and 
substance abuse attended the workshop. Citing recent studies 
on drug addiction, Regional Epidemiology Advisor at UNODC 
told participants that the number of drug addicts among 
teenagers is on the rise in the Gulf region and that the 
region was at risk for the spread of diseases such as AIDS. 
In the case of Qatar, preliminary studies conducted by the 
SCFA have shown that drug addiction is a serious problem 
among nationals, especially young people and women. Drugs 
include hashish, heroin, and opium. While the magnitude of 
the problem is still unknown, according to Mariam Al-Hajri, 
head of the Youth Department, the SCFA has decided to 
establish a rehabilitation center for drug addicts to address 
the serious problem of drug addiction and misuse in the 
country. The center will include a research center, along 
with therapeutic and detoxification facilities and will 
service nationals as well as expatriates. 
UNTERMEYER