Doha, Qatar: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari on Tuesday said that talks of reducing budgets by up to 30 percent was related to the precautionary measures, does not include salaries or capital projects.
During the weekly media briefing, in response to a question about the Financial Times report on the reduction of budgets of government agencies and the reduction of funding for Qatari foreign aid, Al Ansari said that the “figures mentioned in the Financial Times report on the reduction of budgets of a number of government agencies and the reduction of funding for Qatari foreign aid were inaccurate,” stressing that much of it was taken out of context.
Al Ansari added that media outlets are required to refer to official sources to verify the announced figures and information, stressing that the economic indicators and growth figures that will be announced during the coming period will reflect the strength of the Qatari economy and its ability to deal with current developments.
He clarified that talk of reducing budgets by up to 30 percent is related to the precautionary measures taken by the state at the beginning of the regional crisis, as is the case for any country facing exceptional circumstances or an escalation in the region. He noted that this percentage relates to operational expenses only, and does not include salaries or capital projects.
He added that the priority for the Qatari decision-maker was to ensure that the lives of citizens and residents were not affected, whether in terms of the availability of products, supply chains, salaries and other aspects of living. He stressed that the State of Qatar continues to enjoy a normal economic life despite the regional challenges.
