CATEGORY: Focus Reports
Amid the global economic downturn linked to the pandemic, Qatar was able to draw on its strong track record of fiscal surpluses and its robust sovereign credit rating to fund an integrated and effective policy response that alleviated the most severe pressures on vulnerable businesses and households, and maintained economic stability.
The global oil industry had yet to recover from the price crash of 2014-15 by the time the pandemic hit in early 2020, which meant that upstream operators and service providers were already grappling with cost-related challenges and falling profit margins.
Backed by a high credit rating, advanced oil and gas production and storage capacity, and a deep sovereign wealth fund, Qatar was able to tap international debt markets to fund an effective economic response to the pandemic, while its relatively small population was well served by a modern health care system guided by clear government policy geared towards prevention as well as treatment.