logo
Qatar joins GCC economic meeting in Kuwait

Qatar joins GCC economic meeting in Kuwait

Qatar Tribune02-06-2025

QNA
DOHA
Qatar took part in the 123rd Meeting of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held in the State of Kuwait on Sunday.
Minister of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari chaired the State of Qatar's delegation at the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the outcomes of the 84th Meeting of the Committee of Governors of Central Banks of the GCC Countries, the meetings of the GCC Customs Union Authority, and the 14th Meeting of the Committee of Heads and Directors of Tax Departments.
Discussions also covered the amendment of the minimum specific duty on tobacco, the implications of increased United States customs tariffs, and the proposed allocations for judges of the Economic Judicial Authority.
It further discussed the outcomes of the GCC Common Market Committee, along with a review of the GCC's engagement in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings, in addition to the implementation document on the unified criteria for defining the national Gulf product, with particular emphasis on advancing economic integration, fostering innovation, and strengthening economic resilience in the face of common challenges.
The Media Campaign on the GCC Common Market was launched on the margins of this meeting.
It aims to raise public awareness, foster understanding of the unified Gulf market notion, and highlight the merits it offers to citizens and investors alike.
These merits include freedom of movement and residency, property ownership, employment, investment, and equal treatment across a variety of economic sectors.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Qatar underscores global economic role at SPIEF
Qatar underscores global economic role at SPIEF

Qatar Tribune

time12 hours ago

  • Qatar Tribune

Qatar underscores global economic role at SPIEF

Tribune News Network Doha Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs HE Dr Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Sayed headed the delegation of Qatar at 28th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), held in Russia on 18-21 June 2025 – bringing together heads of government, senior officials, private sector leaders and experts from worldwide. Qatar's participation highlights its leading economic position on regional and international levels and aims to underscore the attractive investment environment available for foreign investment. The delegation shed the light on the key investment incentives, advantages, and initiatives steered to support the private sector and enhance the competitiveness and diversification of national economy under Qatar National Vision 2030. The minister of state took part in the forum's plenary session attended by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin alongside prominent political and economic figures and global decision-makers. He also participated in a high-level panel discussion entitled 'In Search of New Growth Drivers: Redesigning the Global Financial and Trade Framework,' alongside senior officials including Deputy Prime Minister of Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Lao People's Democratic Republic Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Finance of Russian Federation Anton Siluanov, Chairman and CEO of VTB Bank Andrey Kostin, Chairman and President of the African Export-Import Bank Benedict Okey Oramah, Founder of RUSAL, GAZ Group, and the Volnoe Delo Foundation Oleg Deripaska and Yaroslav Kuzminov, and Yaroslav Kuzminov, Academic Supervisor at the Higher School of Economics (National Research University). The minister of state delivered remarks highlighting Qatar's pivotal role in promoting innovation and scientific research as a cornerstone of sustainable economic growth. He underscored the importance of Qatar's research, development, and innovation strategy 2030, which seeks to catalyse institutional transformation and advance key national priorities, such as food security, healthcare, energy, technology and logistics. He emphasised that Qatar fosters an ecosystem in which the public and private sectors are encouraged to adopt advanced technological solutions that enhance efficiency, strengthen competitiveness, and drive entrepreneurship—particularly within prioritysectors. He also underscored the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a successful model of regional integration, highlighting its harmonised economic systems and policies, and shared infrastructure and services. He noted that the GCC continues to make steady progress towards full economic integration, further strengthening its position as a prominent global financial and investment hub. He stated that GCC's aggregate GDP reached approximately $2.2 trillion, ranking it ninth globally, while its capital markets hold the seventh position worldwide by market capitalisation, accounting for 4.3 percent of global markets. The non-oil sector contributed 75.9 percent of the region's GDP in 2024. Al Sayed also highlighted Qatar's success in advancing a digital economy, underpinned by its robust infrastructure and adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. He noted that this enables Qatar to keep pace with global transformations and position itself as a leader in the knowledge economy. On the sidelines of the forum, he held bilateral talks with Maxim Markovich, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, and Andrey Kostin, chairman and CEO of VTB Bank. The meetings explored prospects for cooperation in various fields and the incentives, legislation overhaul, and promising opportunities Qatar offers to encourage foreign investment. He also toured the forum's accompanying exhibition, including the pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain, this year's guest of Honour, and several other exhibitors. He was briefed on the latest services and innovations in sectors such as industry, financial services and insurance, information technology, healthcare, education and science, business consultancy, telecommunications, logistics and transport, real estate, hospitality and tourism, and metals and mining. The official delegation representing Qatar at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum included representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Investment Authority, Investment Promotion Agency (Invest Qatar), and Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

QFMA, QSE, Edaa showcase market strength at London conferences
QFMA, QSE, Edaa showcase market strength at London conferences

Qatar Tribune

time12 hours ago

  • Qatar Tribune

QFMA, QSE, Edaa showcase market strength at London conferences

Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA), Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), and Edaa have successfully concluded their joint participation in the 4th HSBC GCC Conference, held in London from June 16 to 19, 2025, and the Qatar Investment Forum on June 18–19. These events highlighted Qatar's capital market developments and provided a platform for engagement with leading global asset managers and institutional investors. At the GCC conference, a high-level delegation led by the CEOs of QFMA, QSE, and Edaa met with a wide range of market participants including asset managers, prime brokers, and global custodians. The event featured opening remarks by the CEO of HSBC Qatar and a keynote address by Qatar's National Planning Council, which presented insights on Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). A panel discussion, moderated by QSE, included speakers from Ashmore Group, Global Infrastructure Partners – a BlackRock company, and the National Planning Council. The conference attracted over 300 participants, including representatives from 60 global investment institutions and more than 100 listed companies across the GCC. Qatar Stock Exchange showcased recent regulatory reforms, technological upgrades, and the growing appeal of its capital market to global investors seeking stable, long-term opportunities. As part of the conference agenda, QSE also took part in the GCC Exchanges CEOs Meeting on June 17, reinforcing regional cooperation and knowledge exchange. These engagements are in line with the broader goals of Qatar's Third Financial Sector Strategy, which aims to enhance the global competitiveness of the country's financial markets. In a dedicated outreach effort, QSE hosted a special investment forum in London, facilitating direct engagement between 15 QSE-listed companies and major institutional investors. Participating companies included Aamal Company, Commercial Bank of Qatar, Doha Bank, Gulf Warehousing Company, Industries Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company, Qatar Aluminium (Qatalum), Gulf International Services, Masraf Al Rayan, Meeza, Milaha, Ooredoo, Qatar Insurance Company, Qatar Islamic Bank, and Qatar National Bank. During the forum, more than 190 one-on-one and group meetings were held between Qatari companies and global investment firms. Discussions covered financial performance, long-term growth strategies, and Qatar's evolving economic landscape. These interactions reflect QSE's ongoing efforts to deepen international investor engagement and support capital market expansion. QFMA CEO Dr Tamy bin Ahmed Al Binali said, 'Developing Qatar's financial market ecosystem requires strategic alignment among key stakeholders. Our joint participation in London reflects the strong synergy between the regulator, the exchange, and the central depository—working collectively to position Qatar as a reliable and competitive global investment hub.' Edaa CEO Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani said, 'Our participation alongside QFMA and QSE highlights Edaa's critical role in delivering reliable, efficient post-trade services. We remain focused on investor protection and strengthening market infrastructure in accordance with international best practices.' Qatar Stock Exchange CEO Abdulla Mohammed Al Ansari said, 'Promoting Qatar's capital market and showcasing the strengths of our listed companies are central to our mission. We are committed to expanding our investor base, attracting more foreign capital, and advancing capital market development in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030.' Qatar's capital markets continue to demonstrate resilience and growth. In the first quarter of 2025, QSE-listed companies posted a combined net profit of QR13.22 billion, driven by strong fundamentals and generous dividend distributions. This performance reflects effective collaboration among QFMA, QSE, and Edaa in strengthening the market infrastructure, expanding product offerings, and enhancing regulatory frameworks. Aligned with the Third Financial Sector Strategy and broader national objectives, these joint efforts are reinforcing both domestic and global investor confidence—solidifying Qatar's position as a leading investment destination in the region and beyond.

World Bank projects Qatar's growth to accelerate to 6.5%
World Bank projects Qatar's growth to accelerate to 6.5%

Qatar Tribune

time3 days ago

  • Qatar Tribune

World Bank projects Qatar's growth to accelerate to 6.5%

QNA DOHA The World Bank projected that the economic growth in the State of Qatar is to remain stable at 2.4% in 2025, before accelerating to an average of 6.5% in 2026-2027 due to the expansion of LNG capacity. These improved prospects are supported by strong non-hydrocarbon growth, particularly in education, tourism, and services, the World Bank said in its report 'Gulf Economic Update.' The hydrocarbon sector is expected to growth timidly in 2025 (0.9%), before undergoing a significant boost in 2026 thanks to the North Field LNG expansion coming online, supporting a 40% rise in LNG output. Non-hydrocarbon growth is expected to remain robust thanks to infrastructure upgrades and international investments, the report said. 'Economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is projected to increase in the medium-term to 3.2% in 2025 and 4.50% in 2026. This growth is likely to be driven by the expected rollback of OPEC+ oil production cuts and robust expansion of non-oil sectors,' according to the to the latest edition of the report, regional growth was 1.7% in 2024 – an improvement from 0.3% in 2023. The non-hydrocarbon sector remained resilient, expanding by 3.7% — largely fueled by private consumption, investment, and structural reforms across the GCC. At the same time, global trade uncertainty presents challenges, as a global economic slowdown remains a key downside risk for the region. To mitigate these risks, GCC countries need to accelerate economic diversification reforms and strengthen regional trade. 'The resilience of GCC countries in navigating global uncertainties while advancing economic diversification underscores their strong commitment to long-term prosperity,' Division Director for the GCC countries at the World Bank Safaa El Tayeb El-Kogali said. 'Strategic fiscal policies, targeted investments, and a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation for youth are essential to sustaining growth and stability,' she added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store