Industry
From The Report: Qatar 2019
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The potential for the industrial sector to play a major role in Qatar’s economic growth was officially recognised in 2008 with the publication of the country’s plan for long-term development, Qatar National Vision 2030. Since then Qatar has taken a number of steps to increase the incentives available to foreign investors interested in supporting the country’s industry. Boosted by a new project to build a large petrochemicals complex, and responding to concerns about food supply and security in the wake of the 2017 blockade, non-hydrocarbons industries look poised to play a more prominent economic role. This chapter contains interviews with Mohamed Badr Al Sadah, CEO, Hassad Food; and Nasser Hassan Al Naimi, Managing Director, Barzan Holdings.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Resilient systems: A long-standing focus on industrial diversification has insulated the economy and created new linkages amid the blockade
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The potential for the industrial sector to play a major role in Qatar’s economic growth was officially recognised in 2008 with the publication of the country’s plan for long-term development, Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030). Since then Qatar has taken a number of steps to increase the incentives available to foreign investors interested in supporting the country’s industry. Boosted by a new project to build a large petrochemicals complex, and in response to concerns about food…

Interview

Home-grown solutions: Mohamed Badr Al Sadah, CEO, Hassad Food, on how local food production is being developed to reduce import demand
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Interview:Mohamed Badr Al Sadah In what ways is agri-business evolving in Qatar? MOHAMED AL SADAH: New investment in food and agriculture is a central part of Qatar’s overarching strategy to diversify the economy. International investment in food production should always be based on a market’s overall strategy for food security and the broader dynamics of the global end-to-end agri-food value chain. Additionally, maintaining a balance between local production and imports is vital. This…

Analysis

Zooming in: New spending plans focus on the development of free zones to attract foreign capital
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In October 2018, as part of its efforts to drive foreign direct investment (FDI) and industrial diversification, Qatar pledged to invest $3bn in new free zones (FZs) and industrial clusters around key logistics centres. According to the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA), the Umm Al Houl Free Zone will open near the Hamad International Port in the first quarter of 2019. A second FZ adjacent to Hamad International Airport, Ras Bufontas, is set to commence operations later in the year. The…

Interview

Secure investment: Nasser Hassan Al Naimi, Managing Director, Barzan Holdings, on the role of defence in promoting innovation
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Interview:Nasser Hassan Al Naimi How will defence help stimulate local development? NASSER HASSAN AL NAIMI: The defence industry is being revolutionised, as new threats emerge in areas such as cyberwarfare. Traditional defence spending focused on procurement, but local defence players are now investing heavily in research and development (R&D) programmes as the strategic landscape shifts. When launching Barzan Holdings, we considered how we could contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030,…

Overview

Into high gear: Economies around the world are preparing for the opportunities and challenges brought about by the next industrial revolution
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The global economy is entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), or Industry 4.0, based on the application of new digital and automated technologies in production processes and service delivery. These changes are presenting emerging markets with opportunities such as improved productivity, as well as risks, namely reshoring and the displacement of human labour by automation. Wealthier emerging markets, such as the Gulf states, that have the resources to invest in new technologies, and those with better established manufacturing sectors, such as countries in Southeast Asia, appear best placed to reap the benefits of the 4IR. Many…

Overview

Into high gear: Economies around the world are preparing for the opportunities and challenges brought about by the next industrial revolution
OBG
plus

The global economy is entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), or Industry 4.0, based on the application of new digital and automated technologies in production processes and service delivery. These changes are presenting emerging markets with opportunities such as improved productivity, as well as risks, namely reshoring and the displacement of human labour by automation. Wealthier emerging markets, such as the Gulf states, that have the resources to invest in new technologies, and those with better established manufacturing sectors, such as countries in Southeast Asia, appear best placed to reap the benefits of the 4IR. Many…