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Dubai, UAE, 26 January 2016: The Qatar Financial Centre's (QFC) plans to broaden its business services by introducing additional tools to streamline its client interfaces is set to attract further foreign investment, according to Links Group, one of Qatar's leading providers of commercial facilitation and advisory services.
The services will be implemented by the first quarter of 2016 to encourage the transfer of best practices in its legal system, which is predominantly based on English common law. These include enabling QFC-licensed firms to be listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange, as well as the introduction of Companies Limited by Guarantee, which allows business councils and professional associations to set up within the QFC.
Commenting on the QFC's plans John Martin St. Valery, founding partner of Links Group said: "The new laws will provide more scope for companies from varied service providers to set up and operate their businesses within a legal infrastructure that aims to adhere to international standards.
"QFC-registered companies will be able to conduct business more freely across the country and ensure better market stability, which in turn will help to attract more international companies and foreign direct investments (FDI) to Qatar. While the Qatari Government remains committed to supporting and developing local enterprise, it also recognises the importance of bringing in external manpower and expertise to achieve ongoing, sustainable growth.
"Some of the attractive features that the QFC environment offers foreign companies include 100 percent foreign ownership, unlimited repatriation of fees and the ability to conduct on-shore business. However, in its role as a 'change management agent', the QFC faces the challenge of ensuring a suitable balance between the needs of the local stakeholders with those of foreign companies.
"With its pro-business environment, fast-growing economy and geographical proximity to the rest of the world, Qatar presents attractive opportunities for businesses wanting to stimulate their home markets. As the country's legislative environment becomes more efficient and aligned with international arbitration standards, we expect investment flow into the country will gather significant momentum over the next few years."
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About Links Group
Established in 2002, Links Group partners, protects & enables foreign companies to enter and exit the UAE and Qatar markets while protecting their status as business owners. It advises corporations and individuals on how best to structure a legal commercial presence in the Middle East that protects their ownership interests and affords clear succession planning.
Links Group is the first company of its kind to be endorsed by the Government of Dubai through a strategic alliance with the Foreign Investment Office (FDI) of the Dubai Economic Department and provides an unrivalled portfolio of corporate services including nominee local partnerships, corporate administration and government liaison support. The Links Group difference is that foreign companies work with a highly structured board as their local partner as opposed to an unknown individual. This structure provides foreign businesses with a corporate entity to act as their nominee, local partner, shareholder or sponsor, thereby minimising the risks associated with appointing an unknown individual nominee and satisfying corporate governance requirements.
Links Group has an untarnished track record with 300 clients, who represent combined annual revenues of over USD 5bn to their respective economies.
Links Group is also recognised as a Dubai SME 100 company, a ranking of the top performing SMEs in the emirate, and an Arabian 500 company.
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Marianna Wisden
Mojo PR
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marianna@mojo-me.com
© Press Release 2016
