Qatar

World leader in terms of savings with a value of $200 billion, keen to diversify foreign investment...

Qatar Index closed last January on a high level at 11000 (i.e.155.73 points), compared to 776.14 thousand points recorded last December. The total value of traded shares increased during the first month of last year by 49.07% to 10 billion and 942 million and 188 thousand and 568.67 QR, compared to 7 billion and 340 million and 489 thousand and 509.68 QR during last December. Besides, the number of shares increased to 224 million and 908 thousand and 874 shares with an increase of 0.08%. The number of transactions rose by 10.16 % to reach 114 thousand and 651 contracts, compared to 104 thousand and 81 contracts. The banking sector and financial services ranked first last January in terms of value of shares traded at a rate of 39.04 %, followed by the industrial sector at a rate of 25.48 %. Some economic analysts expect Qatar’s GDP to grow, with stable prices, by 6.8% during 2014, while the growth rate reached 6.5% a year earlier. This strong growth is supported by the increasing investments in large infrastructure projects. The industrial sector achieved the highest growth rates among the economic sectors by 12.5% as work was launched at Pearl Gas-to-Liquid Projects. The construction sector witnessed a strong growth of 11.7% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2012, and it also grew by 6.3% in the first quarter of 2013, as compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, which reflects the acceleration in implementing the infrastructure development projects in the state. The balance sheet of Islamic banks in Qatar has exceeded the threshold of 54 billion dollars and it is expected to exceed the growth of core assets of $100 billion in 2017, prompting the Islamic banking market in Qatar to be the thirdlargest market in the Gulf within the strategy pursued by the Qatari, which has been classified as the fastest in the world. In the context of events and exhibitions, “Qatar Career 2013” fair contributed to creating more than 14 thousand jobs. Similarly, the exhibitors provided 2.100 educational programs, more than 2,850 training opportunities, and more than 3,300 development opportunities.