Transcript Document
Trade & Investment Team British Embassy Doha www.britishembassy.gov.uk/qatar www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk 1 BASICS Capital City is Doha. Major towns: Mesaieed, Al Khor, Ras Laffan, Al Rayyan Population of approx. 950,000, of which over 50% reside in Doha. Qatar is a peninsula, approximately 100 miles long and 50 miles wide Borders: Saudi Arabia 2 Ruling Family His Highness, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani Emir of the State of Qatar His Highness, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Prime Minister His Highness, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Heir Apparent 3 Where Does it Fit? • Frequent comparisons to Dubai: be careful! • Asian representative on UN Security Council • Hosted Asian Games in December 2006 • Own identity: host to Al Jazeera • Proudly independent • Social development programmes: education, health • Strategic importance: supply 20% of UK gas by 2010 • UKTI “high growth market” • Strong US military presence 4 ECONOMY Growing at 25% pa The world’s second largest natural gas reserve. Will be worlds largest LNG/GTL producer by 2010. GDP per capita: US$50,000 Budget surplus: $4 billion Inflation: 8% Major Industries: Oil production and refining, fertilisers, petrochemicals, steel, cement, financial services Major Trading Partners: Japan, EU, Singapore, South Korea, UK, US Exchange rate £1 = QR 7.60 5 SOCIAL Demographics: 160,000 Qatari, 7,000 British, 50,000 Indian, 80,000 Pakistani, 80,000 Bangladeshi, 40,000 Sri Lankan, 50,000 Filipino, 200,000+ expat Arab The population rate is increasing at an annual rate of 13% represents doubling in 5 years Main Religion: Islam , women in business ok Young domestic market: 70% under 40, 49% under 30 Languages: Arabic and English There are currently 550,000 visitors to Qatar, and this figure is expected to double over the next four years 6 TRADE UK exported goods worth £489 million in 2006 Exports up 50% first 6 months of 2007: biggest ME increase Services very strong Far East Tiger Economies growing in importance Shell, HSBC, Standard Chartered, PWC, BP, RR – more on the way …. Reed Personnel Services 7 Strengths & Weaknesses ++ • Solid economic base • Good transport links • Sound economic management • Investment in social programmes -• Limited human resource • Skills shortage / knowledge capacity • Creaking infrastructure … but new Plan • Cultural outlook 8 Opportunities & Threats Almost anything……!!!!! Changes to Investment Law UK welcomed if competitive Less competitive environment Capacity Too much too soon too quickly Bureaucracy & cultural change 9 Major Projects $130 billion on infrastructure projects in 6 years $90 billion on oil and gas projects in 5 years New Doha Airport and Port - Bechtel 46 5-Star Hotels New Road Networks New Shopping Centres & Malls – www.landmarkdoha.com Post Doha Asian Games 2006 – www.doha-2006.com New Hospitals - Hamad Medical City - www.hmc.org.qa Pearl of the Gulf & North Beach Development Qatar Cultural Village (Cansult Maunsell) West Bay Oil & Gas – www.raslaffan.com Qatar Financial Centre – www.qfc.com.qa 10 Doing Business Routes to market more limited but transparent Small pool of potential sponsors / agents Increasing focus on local presence to win business Majority of work is tendered Price v Quality balance is shifting Get good legal advice and get registered Plans to amend Foreign Investment Law Free zones – but not as we know it Patience – and lots of it! 11 Our Services Overseas Market Introduction Service Program Arrangements Trade Mission: 22-28th Feb 2008 New Embassy facilities Company Information & Profiles Major Project Data Sector Overviews – Healthcare/Construction etc But don’t forget others that can be helpful: British Council, , Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry , & QBBF – www.qbbf.com 12 Getting in touch www.emids.uktradeinvest.gov.uk www.britishembassy.gov.uk/qatar Tel : +974 4353543 Fax : +974 4356131 Email: [email protected] 13