Economic
Commercial Report |
POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENTS: |
NEW
ECONOMY & COMMERCE MINISTER APPOINTED: |
In
a minor reshuffle of the Cabinet the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa issued
a Decree on December 30 appointing Sheikh Mohamed Bin Ahmed Bin Jassem
Al Thani as the new Economy & Commerce Minister. Sheikh Mohamed Bin
Ahmed Bin Jassem Al Thani was previously Manager of LNG Transportation
in Qatar Petroleum. He replaced Sheikh Hamad Bin Faisal Al Thani who held
the post since January 2002, when the economy and Commerce portfolio was
separated from the then Ministry of Finance, Economy & Commerce. |
|
| QATAR
PRAISED FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: |
The
International Religious Freedom Report 2003, released by the Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights and Labour of the United States Government has
praised Qatar saying that amicable and tolerant relations exist among
people of different religions in the state. The report says that the status
of respect for religious freedom improved in Qatar during 2003 due to
the adoption of a constitution that explicitly provides for freedom of
worship. According to the report, other factors that have contributed
to improved religious freedom included the establishment of diplomatic
relations between Qatar and Vatican, and the hosting of a dialogue on
Muslim-Christian understanding. Meanwhile Pope John Paul, while receiving
the credentials of first Qatari Ambassador to Vatican Mr. Mohamed Jeham
Al Kuwari, praised Qatar’s role in the encouragement of dialogue
among people, cultures, civilizations and religions. |
|
COMMERCIAL
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS: |
| ECONOMIC
REVIEW: |
According
to the Planning Council estimates, during the third quarter of 2003, Qatar's
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 5.5% to QR18.20 billion ($4.99
billion), while the GDP for 2002 totaled QR65.08 billion ($17.85 billion).
Qatar Central Bank (QCB) statistics indicate a surplus of QR1.5 billion
($0.412 billion) in public budget in the same period as a result of an
increase in oil prices to $27.4, or $10 per barrel above the estimated
price for the public budget. The Qatari balance of payment in the third
quarter of 2003 increased by 34.5% to QR3.016 billion ($0.83 billion)
and the domestic credit increased by 6.4% to QR44.8 billion ($12.29 billion)
at the end of September 2003. Meanwhile, Qatar Central Bank Governor Mr.
Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah has said that during 2003 the economy has
scored positive growth rates, with GDP expected to go as high as QR70.828
billion ($19.43 billion) by the end of 2003, compared with QR65.088 ($17.86
billion) in 2002. |
|
Global
Imports & Exports with India's share therein |
| Statistics
received from Qatar Planning Council for the year 2002 |
| Qatar's
Total Imports during 2001 |
QR.13678.32
million |
| US$
3752.63 million |
| Indian
Exports during 2001 |
QR
323.00 million |
| US$
88.61 million |
| %
Share |
2.36 |
| Qatar's
Total Imports during 2002 |
QR
14749.00 million |
| US$
4046.00 million |
| Indian
Export during 2002 |
QR
440.34 million |
| US$
120.81 million |
| %
Share |
3 |
| %
Increase in India's export |
36.32 |
| Qatar's
Total Exports during 2001 |
QR
38968.63 million |
| US$
10690.98 million |
| India's
Import from Qatar during 2001 |
QR
559.73 million |
| US$
153.56 million |
| Qatar's
Total Exports during 2002 |
QR
39207.00 million |
| US$
10756.00 million |
| India's
Import from Qatar during 2002 |
QR
364.76 million |
| US$
100.07 million |
| %
share |
0.93 |
| %
Decrease in India's Imports |
34.83 |
|
| |
