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Nov 04 2010

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Qatar Exchange holds investor forum in London

With the growing interest of global institutional investors in the Qatar 'equity story' QE aims to be increasingly active in encouraging direct contact between its listed companies and investors.

With 13 listed companies, representing 80 percent of the QE market capitalisation, 39 fund management groups represented by 60 fund managers the forum hosted 175 meetings over two days.

The Qatari companies participating included Qatar National Bank (QNB), Doha Bank, Industries Qatar (IQ), Qatar Gas Transport, Ezdan, Commercial Bank, Q-tel, Al Khaliji Bank, Barwa Real Estate Company, Aamal, United Development Company, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) and Qatar Insurance.

QE said the formula of allowing investors and listed companies the opportunity to speak directly has proven valuable for both parties and participants reported their satisfaction with the event, its organization and its value in advancing communications in the field of investor relations.

QE is already planning to follow the success of the last two-day forum by hosting similar events in Qatar and other financial centres in Europe, the Far East and US in the near future.

Andre Went, CEO and Abdul Aziz Al Emadi, Director in charge of the Listing Department represented QE during the two days event. Went said: "These events help not only investors learn more about QE listed companies, but also help us understand investors concerns and demands which then allows us to enhance our processes, procedures and infrastructure to meet investors' requirements."

"In partnership with NYSE Euronext we have an ambitious strategy for the development of our markets and products as well as the vision to be a leading factor in the development of Qatar's financial markets overall so this feedback is central to our thinking."

Al Emadi said the event organised in cooperation with Deutsche Bank, as a very suitable occasion to be able to offer investors and listed companies on QE the opportunity to meet each other in this focused one-on-one environment. "There is significant competition for capital in the international capital markets and we expect that our listed companies will benefit from the opportunity to better inform the market about their corporate strategy. For fund managers the benefit is unrivalled access to the decision makers who are driving the growth of some of Qatar's largest companies and contributing in a significant way to Qatar's growth", he said.

He pointed out that with Qatar's GDP forecast to grow 16 percent in 2010 and 18.6 percent in 2011 there can be few better investment opportunities than QE -listed companies.

QE outlined to the audience the significant achievements for QE in the year since the signing of the partnership with NYSE Euronext and reiterated the current plans which involve building on the introduction of the new trading platform (UTP).

© The Peninsula 2010