Trade & Investment

As a major hydrocarbons-exporting economy, Qatar owes both its prosperity and much of its continued growth to international trade. Indeed, in any given year the combined value of imports and exports can exceed three-quarters of the country’s GDP. As a result, and despite recent efforts towards economic diversification, the economy remains exposed to swings in the price of oil, with 2016 having proved especially challenging in this regard. Another test came in June 2017 when several of its regional neighbours imposed a blockade on Qatar, which saw the disruption of certain trade flows. The government is committed to opening the domestic economy to further inward investment and is also seeking to encourage the private sector to step in where possible to deliver new infrastructure, with new legal instruments being prepared to improve the framework for public-private partnerships.

This chapter contains an interview with Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO, Manateq; and Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida, CEO and Board Member, Qatar Financial Centre Authority.