PHOTO
29 December 2016
By Mohammad Shoeb
The value of Qatar’s assets with non-residents at the end of 2015 touched QR347bn ($95.29bn), up by QR23.5bn ($6.45bn) compared to QR323.2bn ($88.75bn) recorded at the end of the previous year (2014), official data released yesterday show.
Other foreign investments (at the end of 2015) consisting of long term loans and trade related short term financial instruments accounted for 58 percent, or QR199.6bn, of the total assets, followed by foreign direct investment (FDI) abroad at QR103.1bn, or 30 percent of the total, and portfolio investments (financial securities) at QR44.3bn, or 13 percent.
The net out flows of FDI abroad and other changes amounted to QR1.1bn, according to the preliminary findings of the fourth edition of ‘Foreign Investment Survey in 2016’ conducted by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics in collaboration with Qatar Central Bank (QCB). While the liabilities to non-residents, at the end of 2015, increased by QR70.9bn ($19.46bn), or 15 percent, to QR541.8bn ($148.78bn) from QR470.9bn ($129.31bn) at the end of previous year.
At the end of 2015, other foreign investments accounted for QR330.7bn, or 61 percent, followed by FDI in Qatar at QR137.2bn QR, or 25 percent, and portfolio investments at QR73.9bn, or 14 percent, of the total liabilities.
The stock of inward FDI, at the end of 2015, reduced by QR3.9bn due to net outflows of FDI and other changes during the year. This survey obtained data from about 150 significant enterprises that had accounted for more than 90 percent of total investments and by various functional, geographical and industrial characteristics. For the balance of enterprises with foreign investments (inward/outward) data were estimated on the basis of past trends.
Revisions were made to the published 2014 data on the basis of revised data provided by respondents. As a result the reported data for 2014 for foreign direct investment abroad has been revised downward. Historical data for the period prior to 2014 will be revised at a later date. The objective of the survey was to cover all major enterprises (private and public) operating in the national economy. However, data could be obtained only from privately owned companies and the public corporations. International financial transactions made by individuals and by the Government were not covered. Users are accordingly cautioned that the Survey results are not strictly comparable with the BOP statement of the QCB. The survey noted that the results are still preliminary and will be revised as new information becomes available.
Most enterprises surveyed reported only the changes in stock positions which include both net financial flows and other changes such as exchange rates and price changes. As far as inward FDI is concerned, about 90 percent was accounted for by the oil and gas and associated downstream manufacturing and other activities, such as transportation and marketing. In terms of the book value of investments, manufacturing activities accounted for 53 percent of the total value of FDI, followed by mining and quarrying (35 percent) and financial and insurance activities (7 percent) at the end of 2015.
By Mohammad Shoeb
The value of Qatar’s assets with non-residents at the end of 2015 touched QR347bn ($95.29bn), up by QR23.5bn ($6.45bn) compared to QR323.2bn ($88.75bn) recorded at the end of the previous year (2014), official data released yesterday show.
Other foreign investments (at the end of 2015) consisting of long term loans and trade related short term financial instruments accounted for 58 percent, or QR199.6bn, of the total assets, followed by foreign direct investment (FDI) abroad at QR103.1bn, or 30 percent of the total, and portfolio investments (financial securities) at QR44.3bn, or 13 percent.
The net out flows of FDI abroad and other changes amounted to QR1.1bn, according to the preliminary findings of the fourth edition of ‘Foreign Investment Survey in 2016’ conducted by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics in collaboration with Qatar Central Bank (QCB). While the liabilities to non-residents, at the end of 2015, increased by QR70.9bn ($19.46bn), or 15 percent, to QR541.8bn ($148.78bn) from QR470.9bn ($129.31bn) at the end of previous year.
At the end of 2015, other foreign investments accounted for QR330.7bn, or 61 percent, followed by FDI in Qatar at QR137.2bn QR, or 25 percent, and portfolio investments at QR73.9bn, or 14 percent, of the total liabilities.
The stock of inward FDI, at the end of 2015, reduced by QR3.9bn due to net outflows of FDI and other changes during the year. This survey obtained data from about 150 significant enterprises that had accounted for more than 90 percent of total investments and by various functional, geographical and industrial characteristics. For the balance of enterprises with foreign investments (inward/outward) data were estimated on the basis of past trends.
Revisions were made to the published 2014 data on the basis of revised data provided by respondents. As a result the reported data for 2014 for foreign direct investment abroad has been revised downward. Historical data for the period prior to 2014 will be revised at a later date. The objective of the survey was to cover all major enterprises (private and public) operating in the national economy. However, data could be obtained only from privately owned companies and the public corporations. International financial transactions made by individuals and by the Government were not covered. Users are accordingly cautioned that the Survey results are not strictly comparable with the BOP statement of the QCB. The survey noted that the results are still preliminary and will be revised as new information becomes available.
Most enterprises surveyed reported only the changes in stock positions which include both net financial flows and other changes such as exchange rates and price changes. As far as inward FDI is concerned, about 90 percent was accounted for by the oil and gas and associated downstream manufacturing and other activities, such as transportation and marketing. In terms of the book value of investments, manufacturing activities accounted for 53 percent of the total value of FDI, followed by mining and quarrying (35 percent) and financial and insurance activities (7 percent) at the end of 2015.
© The Peninsula 2016
