00:00Thank you, and it's great to be here, although I will say I wish I was in Doha.
00:05We have a great morning for you, and it's the New York edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, powered by
00:13Bloomberg.
00:13And normally we'd be over there, but while the location has changed, the forum's commitment to Qatar and the region
00:21has not.
00:22Bloomberg has been part of Qatar's story since we sold our first terminal there 26 years ago.
00:29We're invested in Qatar for the long term because it's a great place to do business.
00:34We have colleagues in Qatar. We have customers and partners there. We have friends there.
00:40We're thinking of all of them during these difficult times, and we look forward to being back there with the
00:45group next year.
00:46Let me also thank His Highness, the Amir, for his continued leadership and partnership,
00:52and his government for working with us to make the gathering possible.
00:56This forum also reflects the enduring legacy of the late Father Amir and his ambition to make Qatar more open,
01:04more connected, and more engaged with the world.
01:07We're glad to continue working with His Highness in the state of Qatar to carry that legacy forward.
01:14And I must say that this forum would not happen without them,
01:17in particular the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Invest Qatar.
01:22So let's give them a big round of applause.
01:29To the heads of state and government, business leaders, investors, and everyone joining us from around the world,
01:37thank you for being here.
01:38This, we think, is a perfect time to be in New York City.
01:42I apologize for the rain.
01:44However, as leaders come together to tackle and share challenges at the United Nations General Assembly,
01:54it's a great opportunity to have conversations across the public and private sectors.
01:59So we hope you'll take advantage of the chance to share ideas and perspectives,
02:04and we hope that some of our new relationships and even new partnerships emerge from the dialogue and from your
02:11time in New York.
02:12There is no shortage of issues to discuss, and today is a chance to focus on some of them,
02:19including one that's getting a lot of attention lately, and that's AI, artificial intelligence.
02:24Technology is moving at the speed of light, and AI is transforming entire industries.
02:30Businesses that don't seek to lead the way will find themselves falling out, being behind.
02:36The opportunities AI is creating are endless, and so are the risks.
02:41The businesses and countries that capitalize on the former while mitigating the latter without stiff innovation
02:50will be well positioned to flourish in the years ahead.
02:55AI is just one way that economies and societies are being disrupted.
02:59Trade wars are also upgrading, upending markets, and so, of course, are military wars.
03:06Energy infrastructure has been damaged and trade routes duplicated, both of which are fueling inflation and volatility in markets.
03:17And through it all, the Gulf region has proved incredibly resilient thanks to the forward-looking leadership
03:24and the long-term investments that countries there have made.
03:27The resilience of the Gulf states is a big reason why they will continue to be vital partners in the
03:34future of global trade,
03:36global energy security, and increasing global capital.
03:40CUT has demonstrated another kind of resilience, too.
03:43Even in the face of serious challenges, it has continued working to bring people together,
03:49keep channels of communications open, and help the world find a path forward.
03:54That role is especially important at a time we're talking about, and listening can be in short supply.
04:01At Bloomberg, we're committed to the region, and it comes with a clear understanding of the responsibility that we have.
04:09We help connect global investors with the opportunities, markets, and capital flows taking shape across the Middle East,
04:17and we provide the reliable data and analysis that help people risk more clearly and act on opportunities more boldly.
04:26The period of uncertainty like this means that the work becomes even more important.
04:32This forum has always been about bringing decision-makers together to discuss the forces shaping our global economy
04:39and to turn those conversations into action.
04:43Today, we've brought together an impressive group of leaders to help lead those conversations,
04:49and then the next April, we'll have to look forward to bringing the Qatar Economic Forum back home to Doha.
04:57Yes, until then, we have plenty of work to do, however,
05:00and our next speaker has shown great leadership in navigating this extraordinary period for Qatar, the Gulf, and the world.
05:08Together, we're working in Doha and here in New York, and always honored to have him with us.
05:15Please join me in welcoming His Excellency, the Prime Minister.
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