Trade & Investment
From The Report: Qatar 2022
View in Online Reader

After weathering a succession of external shocks in recent years, Qatar’s trade and investment outlook is promising in the short and medium term. Years of low oil and gas prices, the 2017-21 economic blockade and the Covid-19 pandemic have all affected the flow of cross-border commrce and finance. The authorities are leveraging the 2022 FIFA World Cup to showcase Qatar’s wider economic opportunities, which benefit from the country’s strengthened regulatory regime, reformed administrative processes, and digitalised trade and investment operations. Qatar has actively sought foreign investment and amended laws to facilitate higher foreign ownership rates. Performance in the areas of trade and investment is set to improve further as countries around the world recover from the economic effects of the pandemic.

This chapter contains interviews with Sheikh Ali Al Waleed Al Thani, CEO, Investment Promotion Agency Qatar; Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO, Manateq; and Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi, Acting CEO, Qatar Development Bank.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Striking a balance: Moves to allow higher levels of foreign ownership and diversify trade partners strengthen investment appeal
OBG
plus

After weathering a succession of external shocks in recent years, Qatar’s trade and investment outlook is promising in the short and medium term. Years of low global oil and gas prices, the 2017-21 economic blockade, and the Covid-19 pandemic have all affected the flow of cross-border commerce and finance in recent years. However, Qatar is gearing up to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which it aims to leverage as a showcase for investment. These efforts will be supported by measures enacted in recent…

Interview

Destination of choice: Sheikh Ali Al Waleed Al Thani, CEO, Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar), on leveraging investment to support the country’s economic recovery
OBG
plus

Interview:Sheikh Ali Al Waleed Al Thani How has the launch of IPA Qatar in 2019 impacted the investment ecosystem in the country, and what are the strategic priorities moving ahead? SHEIKH ALI AL WALEED AL THANI: IPA Qatar has had to adapt to a challenging economic environment brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. This has involved a shift to digital platforms for marketing and promotion, with the expanded use of online channels and tools to reach our target markets. One of our priorities has…

Analysis

Secure assets: A new secondary platform, measures to boost foreign ownership and an active fixed-income segment help to deepen the market
OBG
plus

With a strong performance in the early months of 2022, Qatar’s capital markets have demonstrated their resilience in the face of global and regional uncertainties. This growth is likely to continue in the year ahead, boosted by the global economic recovery and Qatar’s key role in supplying the world with energy. At the same time, recent reforms to foreign ownership rules – including a law allowing up to 100% overseas shareholding in listed companies – demonstrate a continuing policy of economic…

Interview

Growth engine: Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO, Manateq, on supporting small businesses and attracting foreign investment
OBG
plus

Interview:Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, Which non-oil- and gas-related industries will become more prominent in the coming years? FAHAD RASHID AL KAABI: Manufacturing activities are divided in two groups, the first of which includes activities with hydrocarbons inputs – such as oil refining, petrochemicals and fertilisers – which account for around 57% of the sector’s total output. While this segment’s contribution has been steadily declining in recent years, it is expected to increase in…

Interview

Wider opportunities: Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi, Acting CEO, Qatar Development Bank, on unleashing the potential of private firms
OBG
plus

Interview:Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi How can private businesses capitalise on opportunities in the post-pandemic recovery phase? ABDULRAHMAN HESHAM AL SOWAIDI: Private enterprises need an innovative approach to everything from planning to funding, and from product and service delivery to customer experience and expansion. For innovation to flourish across an organisation, a shift in mindset is required; for example, businesses might need to invest more in their human capital by providing…

Analysis

At the source: Ensuring food supply is proving a promising area for investment
OBG
plus

Nations in MENA have been intensifying efforts to increase their food security, withRussia’s invasion of Ukraine the most recent geopolitical event to underlinethe fragility of global supply chains, as well as the importance of boosting domestic agricultural output. Together, Russia and Ukraine account for some 29% of the world’s wheat supply, pointing to thesignificant risk in terms of both availability and price to major grain-importing countries. Egypt is the world’s largest…