Trade & Investment
From The Report: Qatar 2019
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Rising oil prices and effective policy-making have played a significant role in returning Qatar to a healthy trade surplus. A swift response by a range of government ministries has secured new routes to global markets. In March 2018 Hamad Port, which officially opened in 2017, celebrated the handling of 1m twenty-foot equivalent units ahead of schedule. Foreign investment also continues to rise on a year-on-year basis. Legislators are overhauling laws and regulations in order to maintain this positive trend, a process that promises to open the economy to further global capital. This chapter includes interviews with Ahmad Al Sayed, Minister of State; and Chairman, Qatar Free Zones Authority; and Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO, Manateq.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Capital rising: Officials focus on expanding new trading relationships and improving the business environment
OBG
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Rising oil prices and effective policy-making have played a significant role in returning Qatar to the healthy trade surplus it enjoyed prior to 2017, when political events caused substantial disruption to import and export activity. A swift response by a range of government ministries has secured new routes to global markets. In March 2018 Hamad Port, which officially opened in September 2017, celebrated the handling of its one millionth twenty-foot equivalent unit container, ahead of schedule. Foreign…

Interview

Boosting activity: Ahmad Al Sayed, Minister of State; and Chairman, Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA), on creating the right environment to attract foreign investors and promote diversification
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Interview:Ahmad Al Sayed How are the strategies in place promoting Qatar’s long-term economic diversification? AHMAD AL SAYED: Having experienced GDP growth from $8bn in 1995 to nearly $200bn in 2018, Qatar’s economy is strong and in a good position to create a diversified knowledge-based economy, with Doha as its centre. This will be achieved through strategic investments in education, health and infrastructure. Organisations such as Qatar Development Bank, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Science…

Overview

Global village: Medium-term prospects suggest globalisation is set to continue for the foreseeable future
OBG
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Decades of growth in trade and foreign investment have made the economies of the world more interdependent than ever before. This trend has been reinforced by the steady liberalisation of international trade and investment at the bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral levels. National economic specialisations, and regional economic and political integration, have broadly proceeded in a single direction since the 1980s. On aggregate, emerging markets have become the main drivers of growth around the world. Limitations Despite the apparent progress of trade and investment liberalisation, multilateral negotiations aiming for further openness…

Overview

Global village: Medium-term prospects suggest globalisation is set to continue for the foreseeable future
OBG
plus

Decades of growth in trade and foreign investment have made the economies of the world more interdependent than ever before. This trend has been reinforced by the steady liberalisation of international trade and investment at the bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral levels. National economic specialisations, and regional economic and political integration, have broadly proceeded in a single direction since the 1980s. On aggregate, emerging markets have become the main drivers of growth around the world. Limitations Despite the apparent progress of trade and investment liberalisation, multilateral negotiations aiming for further openness…

Interview

Attracting investment: Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO, Manateq, on growing local enterprises and drawing in foreign investors
OBG
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Interview: Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO, Manateq What role will industrial zones and logistics parks play in raising Qatar’s profile as a preferred investment destination in the region? FAHAD RASHID AL KAABI: Diversification strategies aimed at shifting the economy away from hydrocarbons dependency and the creation of a more vibrant industrial sector have been priorities for the government. We have put forth measures to attract investment and expertise and develop an entrepreneurial culture.…