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2.73. A revised grading and classification system for hospitality establishments was introduced in 2016. The updated system ensures enhanced consistency in the application of— and adherence to — quality standards. It also incorporates present-day practice standards, such as service levels and sustainability. The authorities expect that the revamped system leads to the emergence of a more diverse, service-oriented, sustainable and environmentally friendly hospitality sector. Moreover, an electronic licensing system was introduced in 2017 to streamline processes for hotel establishments (...)

3.15. The General Authority of Customs (GAC) concluded several Service Level Agreements (SLA) with other governmental agencies to streamline the issuing of technical, health and environmental approvals on imported goods. [43]

[43] The principal institutions were the Ministries of Public Health, Municipality and Environment and the General Authority of Specifications and Standardizations.

3.52. The (Free Zones) FZ are open to any type of economic activity, subject to regulatory compliance, with special emphasis on high-value added manufacturing. So far, companies from the following sectors have been approved by the Qatar Free Zone Authority (QFZA) to start operations: (...) , energy and environmental technologies (...).

10. (...) Qatar is party to several international environmental conventions that allow or mandate restrictions on imports and/or exports of goods (...)

Box 1.1 Qatar Investment Authority
(...) In 2017, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) became a founding member of the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Initiative, which integrates climate change considerations into financial decision-making. The One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Framework, which the QIA helped draft, was published in July 2018. The Framework is the first ever set of guidelines for the sovereign wealth industry to help deliver on finance-related climate goals. The QIA invests across asset classes, sectors, and geographies in order to diversify the Qatari economy away from hydrocarbon dependency. (...).

Table 1.2 GDP by economic activity, 2014-20
Share of GDP % at current prices
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
2014: 0.4; 2015: 0 .7; 2016: 1.1; 2017: 1.2; 2018: 0.8; 2019: 1.0; 2019 Jan.-June: 0.9; 2020 Jan.-June [a]: 1.1

[a] Preliminary data.

Table 1.2 GDP by economic activity, 2014-20
Annual percentage change (in constant prices, base year 2018)
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
2014: 14.9; 2015: 7.2; 2016: 4.1; 2017: 0.9; 2018: -9.9; 2019: 27.0; 2019 Jan.-June: 15.8; 2020 Jan.-June [a]: 11.7

[a] Preliminary data.

2.16. The National Committee on Trade, formed in 2001, coordinates the private and public sectors to maximize the benefits of membership in a manner that realizes Qatar's sustainable development objectives. (...)

2.17. Qatar's trade policy is formulated within the broader framework of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which is a roadmap towards becoming an advanced society capable of sustainable development by 2030. (...)

2.21. The authorities state that Qatar is an active Member of the WTO. It participates in discussions on investment facilitation for development, e-commerce, WTO reform, and the rules of fisheries subsidies. It also participates in discussions on: (...) e. the environment, including proposing the addition of natural gas and its technologies to the list of environmental goods.