FDI in Qatar increase 4% in Q3 of 2018 to QR709.7 Billion

Doha, January 02 (QNA) - The number of foreign investments in Qatar at the end of Q3 of QR709.7 billion, up 4 percent sequentially according to the Ministry of Planning and Statistics' Qatar Foreign Investment Survey. The survey was done in cooperation with Qatar Central Bank. The survey targeted large enterprises in the private sector and some government owned enterprises which accounted for 84 percent of the value of inward FDI of non-banks enterprises in 2016. QCB surveyed all financial institutions under its supervision. Data showed that at the end of Q3 2018, liabilities to non-residents increased by about 4 percent or QR 27.4 billion from QR 682.3 billion at the end of previous quarter to QR 709.7 billion. Foreign investments accounted for 68 percent or QR 482.1 billion, followed by foreign direct investment in Qatar at QR 123.4 billion or 17 percent and portfolio investments at QR 101.7 billion or 14 percent of the total liabilities. Stock of inward FDI had decreased by QR 2.1 billion due to net outflows of FDI and other changes during the quarter. Qatar's assets with non-residents decreased by QR 2.0 billion from QR 387.3 billion at the end of the previous quarter to QR 385.2 billion. Other foreign investments consisting of long-term loans and trade related short term financial instruments accounted for 53 percent or QR 203.4 billion of the total assets, followed by foreign direct investment abroad at QR 145.7 billion or 38 percent and portfolio investments (financial securities) at QR 35.5 billion or 9 percent. During Q3 2018, there was a net withdrawal of foreign direct investment abroad and other changes of QR 0.9 billion. (QNA)