Doha: The CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency, Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al-Thani, shared significant insights into Qatar’s foreign direct investment (FDI) growth, emphasizing a 110% increase in 2024. As part of their mission to establish Qatar as a leading investment destination, the agency focuses on attracting high-quality investments that contribute to economic diversification and sustainable growth, aligned with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy.
According to Qatar News Agency, Sheikh Ali highlighted the comprehensive services offered by Invest Qatar, which acts as a gateway for investment solutions. These services range from providing market intelligence and regulatory insights during the discovery phase to facilitating fact-finding visits and stakeholder engagements in the landing phase. The agency also offers setup facilitation by connecting investors with licensing platforms and providing aftercare services to ensure long-term success. Additionally, the agency collaborates with public and private stakeholders to strengthen market competitiveness and improve the ease of doing business, key factors in attracting sustainable FDI.
He further elaborated on the role of digital innovation in enhancing investment opportunities. The Invest Qatar Gateway provides over 11,000 members with access to opportunities and tenders, and connects them with business partners and the Investor Relations team. The agency also launched Ai.SHA, an AI chatbot developed with Microsoft, offering real-time support to empower investors in making informed decisions.
In a bid to improve transparency and efficiency in monitoring FDI, the agency introduced the FDI Projects Monitor in partnership with fDi Markets. This tool provides real-time insights into sector trends, project locations, and source countries, aiding in more effective FDI attraction strategies.
Since 2017, Qatar has attracted over 1,000 FDI projects, amounting to more than $50 billion in capital expenditure and creating 73,000 jobs. The agency is actively expanding its global reach through international engagements and high-profile events to promote Qatar’s investment potential.
Sheikh Ali further explained the agency’s strategic approach to evaluating FDI quality, emphasizing investments that provide significant gross value addition. This includes investments that enhance technological capabilities, foster innovation, and facilitate knowledge transfer, thereby improving the competitiveness of local industries. Job creation, skill levels, training potential, and career development are also key pillars, with a focus on upskilling the local workforce and generating high-value jobs.
Sustainability is another crucial criterion in the agency’s evaluation process, as they seek investments that align with Qatar’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. This involves assessing environmental impact and encouraging sustainable technologies and business practices.