Trade & Investment
From The Report: Qatar 2015
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Qatar’s healthy trade surpluses, expanding international investment portfolio, and growing bilateral relations in Asia and Europe have driven the state’s trade and investment growth in recent years. Amendments to the Investment Law of 2000 in 2004, 2009 and 2014 have opened up investment opportunities by enabling foreigners to participate in financial services, hold stakes of 49% in listed companies and up to 100% of businesses in some sectors. Meanwhile, in a bid to attract investment and develop local talent, Qatar is launching three special economic zones to serve as the base of a homegrown private sector. This chapter contains interviews with Shashank Srivastava, CEO, Qatar Financial Centre Authority; and Lim Hng Kiang, Singaporean Minister for Trade & Industry.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Qatar’s new free trade agreements to boost cross-border trade
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Consistently posting sizeable budget and trade surpluses, Qatar has seen its trade and investment activity reach historic highs in recent years, driven by steady hydrocarbons exports, growing import demand, measured market liberalisation and expansion of bilateral trade relations. Although foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows declined in 2013, FDI outflows have skyrocketed, cementing the state’s position as a powerhouse of international investment. Bilateral trade between Qatar and its largest…

Interview

Shashank Srivastava, CEO and Board Member, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority: Interview
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Interview:Shashank Srivastava In what ways has the QFC Authority evolved since its establishment in 2005? SHASHANK SRIVASTAVA: The QFC has built a platform for a first-class business environment that facilitates domestic, regional and international growth. As such, the QFC has catered to an ever-wider range of companies, providing them with access to one of the world’s fastest-growing investment pools. Most significantly in recent years, an increasing number of Qatari, in addition to international,…

Analysis

Government initiatives in Qatar encourage investment in a range of sectors
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Although total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Qatar declined in 2013, foreign investment is thriving in Qatari industry, representing over half of all investment in the sector in 2014. As construction activity ramps up in the state, FDI in the industrial sector is expected to expand further on the back of planned industrial zones, incentives for investors in high-priority sectors and state-sanctioned lending provided by Qatar Development Bank (QDB), which has seen funding for a host…

Analysis

New economic zones in Qatar attract investment and develop local talent
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In line with Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) goals to boost domestic industry and human capital development, Qatar has ramped up its efforts to attract new domestic and foreign investment, particularly in technology, communications and industry. With QNV 2030 emphasising creation of a diverse, industrialised, knowledge-based economy, stakeholders have noted that, as well as attracting foreign capital, plans to develop new special economic zones (SEZ) are also meant to foster local talent,…

Interview

Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore Minister of Trade and Industry: Interview
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What is the current state of economic relations between the GCC and Singapore? LIM: Our relations are growing from strength to strength. The GCC and Singapore have long-standing ties that stretch many generations. As we move into the 21st century, our relations, including economic ties, are growing stronger. Indeed, Singapore traded more than $50.4bn worth of goods with the GCC in 2013, making the GCC states our fifth-largest trading partner. This is not surprising given the GCC’s oil…