Pratap John

Global aviation and tourism industries were looking eagerly towards 2022 for a meaningful recovery, but their hopes seem to have been dashed following the recent discovery of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Qatar’s macroeconomic indicators have improved following the pandemic-induced slump in 2020, returning to positive economic growth, researcher EIU has said in a recent assessment

Ground handling providers are facing severe skills shortages and challenges in retaining and recruiting staff as the global airline industry slowly recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, which virtually halted activity at airports around the world in the second quarter of 2020.

Food system in the GCC countries could absorb pandemic-like shocks, at least in terms of availability and access, due to resilience preparedness, rapid response and strategic reserves built into the system, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said in a recent report.

Total assets of commercial banks in the country increased by 0.5% MoM (up 6.5% YTD) in October to reach QR1.79tn, according to QNB Financial Services (QNBFS).

Global oil demand has been estimated to reach 100.6mn barrels per day in 2022, around 0.5mn bpd above 2019 levels, Opec said in its November ‘Oil market report’.

The International Monetary Fund has provided $16.6bn in assistance to nine Arab countries, and debt relief to three countries, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva told a recent Arab Fiscal Forum Virtual Ministerial Meeting.

Qatar Airways is going to “imminently place” a large freighter order to meet the needs of the national airline’s cargo business, said Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker.