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Qatar Chamber is participating in the 28th Arab-African Investment and International Cooperation Conference and Exhibition, which opened Sunday in Cairo. Board member and Chairman of the Food Security and Environment Committee, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Obaidly is representing the Chamber in the event, which addresses economic integration and opportunities for international partnerships. Held under the patronage of the League of Arab States, the conference serves as a strategic platform for fostering joint investments and forging international partnerships that support economic growth across Arab and African nations. The event brings together a high-level gathering of economic leaders, experts, policymakers, and investors from the Arab region, Africa, and the wider international community. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Al Obaidly said the conference comes at a critical time of economic momentum in the Arab and African regions, calling for enhanced cooperation and the establishment of meaningful public-private partnerships. He stressed that industry and investment are key engines of modern economies and essential pillars for sustainable growth. He also noted their strategic importance in addressing global economic challenges, diversifying economies, and creating job opportunities. Al Obaidly highlighted Qatar's strong focus on both industry and investment under its National Vision 2030, which aims to build a sustainable, diversified economy less dependent on hydrocarbons. He pointed to the development of advanced industrial and free zones, world-class infrastructure, and a range of investor-friendly policies in Qatar, including full ownership incentives, streamlined procedures, and broad support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Al Obaidly further noted the vital role Qatar's private sector plays in driving industrial and investment development, with Qatari companies successfully contributing to the country's production base and engaging in strategic projects both at home and abroad. He concluded by emphasizing the role of Qatar Chamber in supporting industrial investments, facilitating partnerships between Qatari and international business leaders, and promoting initiatives that enhance the business climate and attract investment.

His Excellency Governor of Qatar Central Bank and Chairman of Qatar Investment Authority, Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al-Thani met with Chairman of Citigroup, John Dugan and Chairman of Euroclear Group, Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi on the sidelines of the 2025 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) held in Washington DC in the United States of America from 13 to 18 October 2025. During the meetings, they reviewed the latest global developments in banking and finance.

Foreign investors' net investment in South Korean stocks reached its highest level in more than 1 1/2 years last month amid expectations of improved conditions in the chip industry, central bank data showed Wednesday. Offshore investors purchased a net $4.34 billion worth of local stocks in September, marking the largest amount since February 2024, when net investment stood at $5.59 billion, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). It marked the second consecutive month of net inflows in foreign securities' investment, following $180 million in August. Foreign investors also bought $4.78 billion worth of bonds in September, rebounding from a net selling of $770 million a month earlier. "Foreign investment was focused on the electronics sector amid expectations of better conditions in the semiconductor industry," the BOK said. "The growth in bond investment was driven by rising demand for mid- to long-term bonds." According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), its semiconductor index rose 26.8 %, from 3,780.05 on Sept. 1 to 4,792.07 on Sept. 30, while the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 9 % over the same period. The central bank also noted that the Korean won weakened against the US dollar in September, falling to 1,402.9 won from August's 1,390.1 won.

Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., announced plans to invest $15 billion to build a major artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud data hub in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, marking the company's largest single investment outside the United States. The new facility will be established in the port city of Visakhapatnam and will form part of Google's global network of AI data centers across 12 countries. "It's the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world outside the United States," said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, during an event in New Delhi on Tuesday, adding that the investment would be made over the next five years. Andhra Pradesh's Minister of Information Technology, Nara Lokesh, described the project as "a massive leap for our state's digital future, innovation, and global standing." According to the state government, the new hub will include a 1-gigawatt data center campus integrating advanced AI infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and an expanded fiber-optic network to support growing digital connectivity. The project comes amid intensifying global competition among major technology firms to expand data center capacity to meet surging demand for AI-driven services. Google has pledged to spend approximately $85 billion this year on data infrastructure worldwide, while competitors such as Microsoft and Amazon have also invested billions of dollars in India — a market with nearly one billion internet users.

The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) posted record-breaking figures in 2025, with trading value reaching OMR 2.4 billion in the first nine months of the year, the highest level in 15 years. This surge was driven by aggressive buying from local investment funds and institutions, which fostered positive market sentiment. Their activity encouraged individual investors, as well as Gulf and foreign institutions, to increase their participation, resulting in higher stock prices, trading volumes, and overall market value. The benchmark index also saw notable gains. Trading in the first two quarters remained relatively calm, echoing previous years. Q1 recorded OMR 434 million in trades, rising to OMR 483.1 million in Q2. Activity then doubled in Q3, surpassing OMR 1.5 billion, including OMR 467.8 million in July, OMR 524.8 million in August, and OMR 511 million in September. By the end of September, MSX's market capitalization climbed to OMR 30.534 billion, gaining OMR 2.9 billion. This was supported by rising stock prices, capital increases by public shareholding companies, and growth in the bonds, sukuk, and closed market segments. The exchange also saw a sharp rise in the total number of traded securities, reaching 13.2 billion compared to 4.7 billion in the same period last year and 2.2 billion in 2023. Executed transactions exceeded 327,000 in the first nine months, up from 159,000 last year and 109,000 in 2023. The MSX benchmark index closed September at 5,181 points, its highest in over seven years, gaining 605 points. Sectoral indices rose collectively, led by the industrial sector index, which jumped over 1,760 points to close at 7,031.

The Qatar National Bank (QNB) predicted that the US economy could grow an above consensus 2% this year, on the back of strong consumption and private investment. In its Economic Commentary, the QNB said: "At the beginning of the year, the outlook on the US economy pointed to a gentle slowdown in growth. But an agenda of disruptive policy change by the new administration began to take place, and the climate of optimism and positive market sentiment started to shift. Economic indicators have stabilized and, more surprisingly, some gauges even point to an acceleration in activity. The "GDP Now" is an informative real-time, model-based "nowcast" produced by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which delivers a running estimate of real GDP growth in the current quarter for the US economy. It leverages a large set of high-frequency indicators from key economic sectors, and is therefore a representative summary of economic conditions. The latest available estimate points to an annualized growth rate of 3.8% in Q3-2025, a significant re-acceleration in activity relative to the 0.6% contraction in Q1-2025. In our view, the consensus growth forecast of 1.7% for this year is still lagging with respect to the latest information available and is therefore relatively pessimistic. In this article, we discuss the key components of GDP that are contributing to an acceleration of economic activity and support a relatively better outlook. First, household consumption is providing a strong boost to US real GDP growth, underpinned by the combination of resilient, even if deteriorating, employment, record household net wealth, and adequate access to credit. Consumption represents close to 70% of GDP and is therefore a major driver of economic growth. Retail sales adjusted for inflation, a useful gauge of consumption strength, accelerated to 1.7% year-over-year according to the latest prints, significantly above the average of -0.3% from last year. Even as job gains have slowed, the unemployment rate at 4.3% remains in the range of balanced employment, and earnings have steadily grown in real terms, outpacing inflation. This helps to keep aggregate household incomes strong. At the same time, a positive wealth effect from rising stock markets has bolstered spending capacity. Directly and indirectly held equity represents 35% of household net wealth, and 14% year-to-date growth in major indices has a significant impact on wealth, providing a positive effect that bolsters consumption sentiment. Borrowing channels also remain dynamic, with total household credit growing USD 352 Bn in the first two quarters and continuing to support expenditures this quarter. Together, these factors are contributing to maintaining household consumption as the key driver of real GDP momentum, accounting for 2/3 of real GDP growth expected for this quarter. Second, business investment is showing a strong performance, on the back of favourable financial conditions, fiscal incentives, and technology and AI-related capital expenditures. The latest data releases have shown accelerating growth in "core capital goods orders," a timely and representative signal of private-sector capital expenditures ("capex"). This measure tracks non-defence capital goods and excludes aircraft orders, which are typically sensitive to irregular procurements, and are therefore noisier. In recent months, this indicator has been growing at a rate of close to 4% in annual terms, a remarkable acceleration from the 0.9% average contraction last year. Several factors are contributing to investment growth. Demand for equipment and technology is surging, as firms continue to invest to support productivity and AI-related expansion. Policy incentives, such as the CHIPS Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and infrastructure programs are spurring construction of semiconductor facilities, factories, and clean energy projects. Additionally, healthy corporate profits and high expected returns on invested capital give businesses the means and the incentives to move forward with long-term projects. Taken together, these investment trends are contributing to an acceleration of economic growth. All in all, a reacceleration of the US economy is taking place on the back of strong momentum in consumption and private investment. In our view, the US economy could grow an above consensus 2% this year, on the back of strong consumption and private investment."

Qatar Chamber's Acting General Manager, Ali Bu Sherbak Al Mansouri, met on Wednesday with Trade and Investment Attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the State of Qatar Jonathan Kamara Bio. The meeting focused on bilateral cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance collaboration in commercial and economic fields, highlighting the role of the Qatari private sector in promoting trade exchanges. It also discussed preparations for the upcoming Qatari-Sierra Leone Business Forum, scheduled to be held in Doha in January 2026, which will include a high-level delegation from Sierra Leone along with business owners and investors from both sides. Al Mansouri affirmed the Chamber's readiness to work with the Sierra Leonean side to strengthen trade and investment relations, particularly in the agriculture, industry, and engineering sectors.

Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) announced the launch of an awareness campaign for the fourth season of the Gulf Smart Investor Award that was recently launched by the Gulf Investment Awareness Program (Mulim), which runs from September 2025 to the end of February 2026. The Investment Awareness Program "Mulim" is a Gulf awareness initiative that aims to raise awareness of financial and investment culture and produce content that enriches the culture of financial transactions in the GCC communities. The program was first launched in its first season, in 2020, by the capital markets regulators in the GCC. Since then, QFMA has been contributing to the success of the program in all its phases, with the aim of raising awareness among investors in Qatar and the GCC, spreading awareness of the basics of investing in the capital markets, fraud and risk methods, ensuring the need to adopt strategies that help mitigate such risks, and introducing the regulations and legislation that govern transactions in the financial markets, which eventually raise the standards of efficiency in these markets. The Gulf Smart Investor Award aims to enable competition among creative university students, school students, or talented individuals from citizens and residents of the GCC through four tracks, namely video, drawing, photography, and writing, to select 44 winners, 11 winners on each track, in order to spread investment culture, raise awareness of the importance of saving and investment, how to avoid financial fraud, and raise the level of financial awareness among community members to enhance their ability to plan and enabling them to have the elements to make the right financial decisions that achieve financial stability and enhance their ability to achieve their financial goals. The award also seeks to raise the level of financial literacy by acquiring the necessary skills that help in using financial resources in the most effective and efficient manner. The GCC Smart Investor Award allows participants to submit their entries under three main categories, including financial planning, savings, and investment. Following the end of the stage of receiving entries in the various tracks of the award, the work of the judging committees will start in March 2025, with the winners to be approved by April 2025, and then the final ceremony to honor the winners will be held in May 2026. The award targets citizens and residents of the GCC countries, with prizes exceeding QR 1.5 million. Head of Communication Section at Public Relations and Communication Department at QFMA Maryam Al Heidous said that the "Gulf Smart Investor Award", which is witnessing its fourth consecutive season, has gained great importance from all GCC capital markets authorities, explaining that QFMA actively participates every year in promoting the award in Qatar, and encouraging various segments of the local community, especially university and school students, to actively participate in all tracks and categories of the award. Al Heidous pointed out that the QFMA's interest in the success of the Gulf Smart Investor Award in all its seasons stems from its mission aimed at enhancing financial literacy among various segments of society, developing the level of financial skill and knowledge among investors, protecting them and enabling them to make the right investment decision at the right place and time, in a way that contributes to encouraging and developing investment in a safe financial market and an attractive investment environment, which plays a major role in supporting the growth and diversity of the national economy. Al Heidous explained that the topics covered by the award deal with saving, financial planning, sound financial habits, sound spending, saving, financial terms, expense, wastefulness and extravagance, money and currencies, investment, financial fraud, protecting funds and investments, and money box. Al Heidous called on talented citizens and residents of Qatar to actively participate in the award, in order to showcase their ideas and innovations, and make them available to those who wish to benefit, develop their capabilities, and enhance their financial knowledge. Al Heidous confirmed that there is a special judging committee, comprised of experts from various GCC countries with expertise in the award's tracks, which will supervise, evaluate and sort the entries and select the winners. Those wishing to participate in the award and to view its conditions and the participation mechanism, can visit the website (mulimgcc.org) program.

The Qatar Chamber held two separate meetings in Lisbon to explore cooperation with the Arab Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIAP) and the Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency (AICEP). The meetings were held on the sidelines of Qatar Chamber's participation in the Second Session of the Qatari Portuguese Joint Commission on Economic, Commercial and Technical Cooperation, which took place in Lisbon. Second Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber Rashid bin Hamad Al Athba met separately with Interim President of the CCIAP Rui Gomes da Silva, and Director of External Relations and Foreign Markets at AICEP Francisca Lucena e Valle. During these meetings, both sides discussed trade and economic cooperation between Qatar and Portugal, as well as the private sector's role in developing and strengthening these relations. They also reviewed the investment climate in both countries and explored available opportunities, while encouraging the Qatari and Portuguese business communities to establish joint ventures and projects in both the State of Qatar and the Portuguese Republic. For his part, Rashid Al-Athba praised the bilateral relations between Qatar and Portugal across various fields, particularly trade and investment, noting that trade exchange between the two countries reached about QR 418 million in 2024. He stressed the mutual desire of both sides to raise the level of bilateral trade to even higher figures. Al Athba also called on Portuguese companies to invest in Qatar, which he described as a leading global hub for business and investment. He highlighted Qatar's world-class infrastructure, its attractive and supportive business environment, as well as a set of progressive economic legislation that encourage and protect investment.

The Cultural Investment Conference 2025 concluded in Riyadh. Held over two days, 29–30 September, the event reinforced culture as an asset and a driver of sustainable growth. Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Conference gathered more than 100 speakers and 1,500 participants, cementing Saudi Arabia’s role as a global hub for cultural investment.Day One began with an opening keynote delivered by His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture, His remarks emphasized the Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building a dynamic cultural economy that empowers talent, supports innovation, and strengthens the country’s standing on the global stage.Another major opening day highlight was the ministerial plenary, “From Policy to Prosperity – Culture as a Strategic Investment,” featuring, His Excellency Faisal F. Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning, and His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment. The session outlined a national framework that integrates cultural priorities into economic forecasts, supports infrastructure and heritage investments, and expands creative skills through education and talent development.Throughout the day, international perspectives and local expertise converged on themes ranging from building sustainable creative economies to embedding culture within global growth strategies. Discussions emphasized finance and investment as essential to transforming cultural ventures into structured, credible markets, while also spotlighting cinema and entertainment as expanding drivers of cultural and economic influence. The Conference also delivered tangible outcomes with the signing of 89 agreements , valued at SAR 4.3 B, including the launch of an investment fund by the Cultural Development Fund and the Cultural Assets Group, an investment fund in the film sector in partnership with BSF Capital, and an investment fund in the fashion sector in partnership with Merak Capital and other significant agreements across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. In addition, new initiatives highlighted the Conference’s role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s cultural economy. Audi Capital launched the Kingdom and MENA region’s first CMA-regulated art investment fund, creating a new platform for cultural financing. Colnaghi, one of the world’s oldest art galleries, partnered with Sarat Investment Holding to open its first Middle East gallery in Riyadh. A strategic agreement with the Royal Commission for AlUla will also drive cultural and heritage development in AlUla, positioning it as a global destination. Together, these initiatives highlight Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a hub for cultural investment and innovation.Breakout discussions in the Culture Studio explored leadership, entrepreneurship, and cultural innovation, alongside dialogues on philanthropy, heritage, and storytelling that highlighted the role of capital, partnerships, and technology in safeguarding authenticity and amplifying voices. The day closed with a focus on investor priorities, demonstrating how culture can attract global capital through ventures spanning immersive experiences, heritage preservation, and next-generation performance spaces.Day Two continued with a keynote address by Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America, under the theme “From the Kingdom to the World – Investing in Culture and Identity,” which reflected on how culture can shape national identity, strengthen global partnerships, and advance sustainable growth.A milestone announcement followed with Google Arts & Culture’s partnership with Jeddah Historic District, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The collaboration aims to digitize the district using Street View technology, making its heritage accessible worldwide for the first time. This initiative reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to harnessing technology to showcase its culture globally while safeguarding its historic treasures.The closing day also focused on culture’s role as a catalyst for growth and competitiveness, as national leaders discussed how policy, talent development, and investment frameworks are embedding creativity within the Kingdom’s diversification plans. Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects and creative industries were presented as global showcases of culture, with developments such as Qiddiya, New Murabba, and NEOM anchored in cultural expression, while music, fashion, design, and hospitality were highlighted as expanding sectors of economic and cultural opportunity.The Cultural Investment Conference 2025 reinforced Saudi Arabia’s leadership in making culture a driver of global growth. It laid the foundation for enduring partnerships and innovative models that will shape the creative economy of the future.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani on Saturday announced investment opportunities valued at $450 billion across different sectors. His announcement came as he addressed the opening of the two-day Iraq Investment Forum in Baghdad. The Iraqi Prime Minister said that Iraq has recorded higher indicators of integration into the global economy, with the expansion of electronic payment systems and financial sector governance, adding that a dedicated conference will be held to present investment opportunities within the Development Road Project, the largest of its kind in the region. Total investments have surpassed $100 billion, confirming the soundness of the decisions to diversify Iraq's investment environment, Al Sudani said, pointing out that they launched the "Riyada" initiative, engaging over 500,000 young men and women, training 92,000 of them, which has resulted in 12,000 new projects funded through loans and 20,000 job opportunities. Partnerships with international companies have advanced investment in fertilizers, sulfur, phosphate, steel, construction, and food industries, he said, adding that Iraq has achieved unprecedented success in pharmaceutical manufacturing, marking a historic milestone in the country's industrial development. Today, 54 Iraqi factories have already begun exporting their products to regional and global markets, Al Sudani noted, while saying that the government has launched the largest housing projects in the region, attracting both direct and indirect investments and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Qatar Chamber held a meeting Monday with a business delegation from India to discuss trade and economic relations and ways to enhance them, as well as opportunities for private sector collaboration and partnerships and promising sectors for Qatari investment in India.The delegation was led by Sanjay Beswal, co-chair of the International Affairs Committee at PHDCCI India, while Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Mahdi al-Ahbabi headed the Qatari side.Addressing the meeting, al-Ahbabi highlighted the strong co-operation between Qatar and India at all levels, particularly in trade and economic relations. He noted that India is one of Qatar’s most important trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching QR48bn last year. He added that the Indian business community plays an active role in supporting Qatar’s economic development through the presence of numerous Indian companies operating across various sectors in the Qatari market.Al-Ahbabi also emphasised Qatar Chamber’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and co-operation between Qatari and Indian companies through joint investments and projects across diverse sectors, including energy, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, and food security.He invited Indian companies to explore the investment opportunities available in Qatar, highlighting the country’s advanced infrastructure and progressive legislation, which pave the way for deeper collaboration between the Qatari and Indian business communities.For his part, Beswal noted that PHDCCI is one of India’s oldest chambers, established over 128 years ago, and includes a wide range of leading companies, including SMEs across all sectors.He expressed his keenness to enhance co-operation with Qatar Chamber to develop stronger partnerships between the business sectors of both countries, especially given the shared desire to expand trade and economic co-operation. He highlighted the strong economic and commercial ties between the two countries, noting that India is one of Qatar’s leading exporters.Beswal said many Indian companies are keen to invest in Qatar and collaborate with Qatari counterparts across all sectors, inviting Qatari investors to explore India’s promising investment opportunities in infrastructure, education, healthcare, services, renewable energy, technology, and innovation, supported by legislative reforms, incentives, and a pro-business environment.He also invited Qatari businessmen and investors to visit India to explore available opportunities and meet their Indian counterparts to discuss co-operation and joint ventures.The meeting also included a presentation highlighting investment opportunities in India across sectors, such as energy, infrastructure, transport, smart cities, technology and innovation, food security, agriculture, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and fintech.Also present at the meeting were Deepak Pundir, commercial attaché at the Indian Embassy in Qatar, along with a number of Qatari businessmen and their Indian counterparts.