Qatar Daily News

Sustained investment in LNG production since the past 20 years will help Qatar continue a growth of 8.5 per cent in 2009 as it tackles an “entrenched” inflation and continues to witness a net rise in the number of immigrants, a new study said.

London-based Standard Chartered bank, in its country briefing, said Qatar will continue to diversify its economy. “We expect Qatar to continue investing in its economy despite the current slump in commodity prices. Qatar is now reaping the rewards of its continued investment in major liquid natural gas developments throughout the 1990s despite depressed oil prices,” the report highlighted.

Qatar, which is currently producing 30 million tonnes per annum of LNG, plans to increase it to 77 million tonnes per annum in 2010.

Its LNG production capacity is much ahead of other gas majors Russia and Iran. It recently edged past competitors like Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia.
Read the rest of this entry »

Qatar Islamic Art museum

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART

Located on the Corniche, which surrounds Doha Harbor in Qatar, about 15 minutes from Doha International Airport.

Closed Tuesdays. Open Fridays 2 p.m.-8 p.m. and other days 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Web Site: www.mia.org.qa.

Malaysia and Qatar have agreed in principle to set up a US$1 billion investment fund for mutual investment, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said.

He said details of the fund will be finalised at a meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir Al-Thani.

Among matters to be fine-tuned are the type of projects and where the projects are to be implemented, he told Malaysian journalists covering Abdullah’s two-day visit to Qatar.

Dr Rais said the fund would be shared on a 50:50 basis between Malaysia and Qatar.

He said Abdullah has also been informed on the success of another Malaysian company, Sime Darby Bhd, which has clinched a big contract in Qatar to build an oil platform costing RM1 billion.

“This showed Malaysia is now accepted as an investment partner in Qatar following the success of several Malaysian companies implementing many mega projects in Qatar,” he said.
Read the rest of this entry »