Qatar Businessforecast Industry Forecast

The Qatar Business Forecast Report provides essential macroeconomic, political and financial analysis for companies doing business in Qatar. The Qatar Business Forecast Report helps businesses with Qatari market assessment, strategic planning and decision making to promote growth and profitability in Qatar and is an essential tool for CEOs, Chairmen, Finance Directors/CFOs, Managing Directors, Marketing/Sales Directors with commercial interests in this emerging market.

An influential new analysis of Qatar's political, economic and financial prospects through end-2012, just published by award-winning forecasters, Business Monitor International.

 

 

 

Key Uses of the Qatar Business Forecast Report | Qatar's Political Outlook | Qatar's Economic Outlook | Qatar's Business Environment | Key Qatar Industry Sectors | Qatar BMI's Executive Summary | Our Middle East Subscribers | Full Range of BMI's Business Forecast Reports

Key Uses for the Qatar Business Forecast Report

  • Forecast the pace and stability of Qatar's economic and industry growth through end-2012
  • Identify and evaluate adverse political and economic trends in Qatar, to facilitate risk mitigation strategies
  • Assess critical shortcomings of Qatar's business environment that pose hidden barriers and costs to corporate profitability
  • Contextualise Qatar's country risks against Middle East regional peers using BMI's country comparative risk ratings system
  • Target business opportunities in Qatar's high-growth industry sectors
  • Evaluate external threats to doing business in Qatar, including currency volatility, the commodity price boom and protectionist policies

The Qatar Business Forecast Report by Business Monitor International includes four major sections: Qatar's Political Outlook, Qatar's Economic Outlook, Qatar's Business Environment and Qatar's Key Industry Sectors.

Qatar's Political Outlook:

What are the political risks to doing business in Qatar over the next 5 years?

BMI's Qatar Country Risk Ratings evaluate the short and medium-term threats posed by government instability, adverse economic policy-making, deterioration in the business environment and external shocks.

Qatar Political Outlook Contents

  • SWOT Analysis for the Qatari Market
    Political Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing Qatar.
  • Political Stability and Risk Assessment for Qatar
    BMI's Risk Ratings assess explicit short and long-term risks to political stability; latest ratings, rankings and trends for Qatar's risk are compared with Middle East regional and global averages.
  • Current Administration and Policy-making in Qatar
    BMI profiles key policy-makers and power-brokers in the Qatari government, assessing threats to the continuity of Qatari economic policy, and likely changes to the business operating environment through end-2012.
  • Qatari Foreign Policy
    BMI examines key trends and shifts in Qatar's foreign relations and alignments with Middle East neighbours, the United States and Europe, focusing on external influences.

Key Benefits

  1. Benchmark Qatar's risk profile against its neighbours, the global and regional average, allowing easy comparison of risks between key business markets.
  2. Identify, evaluate and anticipate political and security risks to the business environment in Qatar, and to your company's current operations and future plans.
  3. Gain valuable insights into the Qatari government and policy-making, through BMI's specialist team of analysts and economists, and their exclusive network of private and public sector sources.

Qatar's Economic Outlook:

How will Qatari economic policy-making and performance impact corporate profitability over 2008-12?

BMI provides fully independent 5-year forecasts for Qatar through end-2012 for more than 35 macroeconomic variables. We evaluate Qatari growth, and also forecast the impact of economic management, including central bank policy, on profitability.

Qatar Economic Outlook Contents

The Qatar Business Forecast Report features explicit BMI economic forecasts for Qatar, with supporting commentary and analysis, for end-2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 set against Qatari government views. Underpinning our Qatar forecasts are key assumptions for the global economy through end-2012, covering growth, inflation, employment, trade and investment, interest and exchange rates in the US, Japan and the Euro-zone.

Coverage of Key Economic Issues in Qatar

  • Economic Activity in Qatar
    Real GDP growth; industrial growth; employment growth; inflation and consumer prices; consumption (indicative wages, retail sales, consumer confidence)
  • Fiscal Policy in Qatar
    Current macroeconomic strategy and implementation policies; government finance (revenue, expenditure, budget balance); tax reforms
  • Monetary Policy in Qatar
    Interest rate trends (bank lending and deposit rates); inflation (retail price inflation, consumer price inflation); exchange rate policy in Qatar; Qatari currency controls; influence of foreign direct investment inflows; exchange rates and foreign exchange reserves
  • Balance of Payments in Qatar
    Merchandise trade (exports, imports, trade balance); current account balance
  • Foreign Direct Investment in Qatar
    Foreign direct investment approvals and inflows; the foreign investment climate
  • Qatari External Debt
    Debt profile (short- and long-term debt; public and private sector exposure)

Key Benefits

  1. Rely upon BMI's 100% independent Forecast Scenarios for Qatar and underlying assumptions - we take no advertising and are privately-owned.
  2. Exploit the benefits of BMI's comprehensive and reliable macroeconomic Qatar database, sourced and fully maintained by BMI from an extensive network of private sector, government and multilateral contacts.
  3. Gain key insights into the current and future direction of Qatari government economic policy

Qatar's Business Environment:

How internationally competitive is Qatar's regulatory environment, and what changes can be expected?

BMI assesses levels of transparency, flexibility of labour market, tax burden, development of the banking sector and credit availability, infrastructure and IT, foreign investment regime and trade liberalisation in Qatar.

Qatar Business Environment Contents

  • Qatar's Business Environment Risk Rating with SWOT Analysis
    Short and long-term business environment risk ratings for Qatar, benchmarked against ratings for the Middle East and neighbouring countries.
  • Country Competitiveness for Qatar
    Competitiveness of Qatar's business operating environment in supporting corporate growth and profitability over the 5-year forecast horizon, compared with regional neighbours.

Coverage of Key Business Environment Issues in Qatar's Domestic Environment

Transparency, cronyism and corruption; labour market flexibility; corporate tax burden; interest rate levels; access of private sector to lines of credit; sophistication of banking sector and stock market; levels of business confidence; infrastructure and IT

  • Foreign Direct Investment in Qatar
    Analysis of foreign investment regime, foreign ownership laws; attractiveness of business environment to foreign investors; review of major foreign direct investments over the last 24 months, and of strategic sectors attracting most interest
  • Foreign Trade with Qatar
    Analysis of trading environment, government trade policy, liberalisation measures, tariffs and membership of trade areas

Qatar's Key Industry Sectors

Which industry sectors in Qatar will grow fastest, and where are the major investment opportunities in the Qatari market?

BMI targets investment opportunities in Qatar's high growth industries, including automotives, food and drink, infrastructure, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, telecommunications and IT.

Coverage of Qatar's Key Industry Sectors - Qatari Market Overview

Size, value and structure of industry; impact of liberalisation and privatisation on sector performance and prospects; friendliness of business environment

  • Latest Developments in Qatar
    Review of latest projects, deals, privatisations, mergers and acquisitions, and implications for sector performance; company rankings for national and multinational companies in Qatar; main industry players by local sales, employee size, market share and main brands, products and services
  • 5-year Industry Forecast for Qatar
    Historic dataset (2003-2007) and BMI forecasts through end-2012, covering headline industry data broken out by sub sector

Key Benefits

  1. Target strategic sector-by-sector opportunities in Qatar's high growth industries, attracting public expenditure and foreign investment; identify key players and competitors driving growth, investment and business opportunities.
  2. Benefit from competitive intelligence on top national and multinational companies operating in Qatar's major industry sectors, including analysis of recent trends in sales and market share, company strategies, product launches and latest deals.

Who buys the Middle East Business Forecast Reports?

The Qatar Business Forecast Report is an essential tool for CEOs, Chairmen, Finance Directors/CFOs, Managing Directors, Marketing/Sales Directors with commercial interests in Qatar.

Our Business Forecast Reports are relied upon by corporates, banks, government departments and multinational organisations around the world.

Business Monitor International's Business Forecast Report subscribers include:

3M, Abbott Laboratories, Accenture, Access Bank Plc, ADNEC, American Express (Middle East) BSC, Arab Swiss Engineering Co ASEC Group, Astra Zeneca, Bahrain Petroleum Company, BNP Paribas, British American Tobacco SA (pty) Ltd, Crown Industries, Ernst & Young, GE International Inc, Gulf Holding Company, Hyder Consulting, Impact/BBDO, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Kellogg, Mobinil, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Samsung Engineering & Construction, Telkom Wholesale Services, Tesco Corporation, Tetra Pak Egypt Ltd, Visa International 

 

" Out of all the research publications that my organisation has purchased and used recently, BMI's is by far the most comprehensive. The reports are underpinned by in-depth study of the industry and an unparalleled analytical process. We use the reports to obtain an understanding of the underlying economic situation within our country, as well as looking at opportunities for the future. "
Director, Capital Africa Group, South Africa.

BMI's Executive Summary for Qatar

[TOP]

Another Good Year Ahead

Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani will continue with his robust diplomatic initiatives, even though Qatar's stint on the UN Security Council concluded at end-2007 – removing a key platform for the Qatar leader's ambitious foreign policy sorties. Doha's frantic international networking has riled some of its closest neighbours, notably Saudi Arabia, but has been carefully crafted to provide for a greater level of security in an increasingly unstable region. We expect to see Qatar's diplomatic hand being played to strong effect, although there is less scope for making a difference on the biggest regional challenge – the looming confrontation between a nuclear Iran and a US-backed alliance. Fortuitously, a rapprochement of sorts between Riyadh and Doha should allow for a better modus vivendi with the biggest strategic player in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). Meanwhile, Qatar remains a key strategic ally of the United States – a friendship that does not preclude it forming ties with some odd bedfellows.

Domestically, the biggest issue is the elections to the new Majlis al-Shura. Prime minister Hamad Bin Jassim is expected to announce elections to the consultative council in 2008. The body will have legislative authority and be able to vote on the state budget. However, there is little domestic grassroots political activity and the Emir retains ultimate power through an executive veto. Much of the focus of reform will be below the political level – boosting education standards and enhancing social change. Qatar looks likely to avoid security problems associated with Jihadist militancy, given raised security levels.

Qatar's economy is set to continue its expansionary path, posting real GDP growth of above 8% in 2009 and beyond, on the back of a massive increase in oil and gas revenues. On a positive note, Qatar is carefully tending its natural gas reserve base – the font of the country's future wealth – though rumours suggest increasing concern about the state of the prodigious North Field. These will have to be addressed in time. The country will raise its oil production in line with market demand, investing in new exploration and production (E&P) opportunities. High oil prices will sustain the high liquidity for the forecast period.

Outside the hydrocarbons sector, Qatar is planning a sustained effort to boost economic activity. Large amounts of public expenditure have poured into the construction and real estate sectors, while new petrochemicals projects will boost the value-added from its oil and gas reserves (though gas-to-liquids projects have yet to deliver on their initial promise).

The biggest concern is the persistent inflation, which is exceeding regional norms. BMI anticipates average inflation of near 12% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2008. Despite calls for drastic action on the US dollar peg, to help redress the situation, the monetary authorities may resist such blandishments for a while longer – though decisive GCC action on the currency issue is likely at some point.

Read about our other Business Forecast Reports  

Asia

Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Europe

Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan & Central Asia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine

Middle East

Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon & Syria, Kuwait, Oman & Yemen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE

Africa

Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Francophone West Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, North Africa, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

North & South America

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, East Caribbean, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, West Caribbean

 

Business Monitor International

Business Monitor International
A Market Leader in Country Risk, Industry Intelligence and Company Research

Mermaid House, 2 Puddle Dock, Blackfriars, London EC4V 3DS, UK

BUSINESS MONITOR INTERNATIONAL's country risk analysis and forecasts, market research on leading industries, and multinational company research is relied upon by corporates, banks, government departments and multilateral organisations in over 125 countries around the world.

Country Risk Analysis and Forecasts
BMI
has for 25 years specialised in political risk analysis, financial markets analysis, and macroeconomic forecasts on 175 global markets.

Industry Intelligence and Market Research
BMI's industry research covers Automotives; Banking; Chemicals; Defence & Security; Food & Drink; Freight Transport; Information Technology; Infrastructure; Insurance; Mining; Oil & Gas; Petrochemicals; Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare; Power; Telecommunications, and Tourism.

Company Research
BMI maintains a fully-researched 55,000-site database of multinational company subsidiaries located across global markets.