Qatar The Ambitions of a Rich Small Nation Micol Briziobello - Misna

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Its first reserves were found in the forties and the commercialisation of its crude oil began in the fifties. In 1974, the government founded the Qatar General Petroleum Corporation, a delegated authority set up to control its oil resources. Also, in North West Dome, the world’s largest deposits of natural gas not linked to petrol have been found. The government uses the profits from its oil concessions to finance the industrial development of the country. Other than carrying out oil refinement, the manufacturing industries also produce cement, fertilizers and steel. Since 1997, The Emirate has had its own share market, called the Doha Securities market. Being a primary producer of liquid natural gas, Qatar has in only the month of February set up within the energy and infrastructure sectors a series of important international accords. The national company RasGas has undersigned an agreement with the Korean company Kogas for the supply of two million tonnes of liquefied natural gas, that will add to the already 7 million tonnes exported to the Asian nation a year. Only a few hours later, Qatar’s Minister for Energy and his counterpart in Pakistan signed a memorandum to ensure the supply of 500 million metres cubed of gas everyday to Islamabad. At the same time, Qatar Electricity and Water closed the deal with Bahrain’s Infrastructure fund to garner a 23.3% share in Jordan’s largest electrical plant in Amman. Its economic clout has even made it to Turkey, thanks to its acquisition of Turk Telecom, the flagship of Turkey’s stock exchange, with a share of 15
illion, which is currently controlled by a company owned by the Hariri family. If everything goes to plan, Qatar will also get its hands on Cell C, South Africa’s third largest telecommunications provider. The Search for New Lands Despite its huge oil reserves, harvested farmland in Qatar is minimal, and the country has to rely on imports for the bulk of its food needs: by the end of the 90’s, the country was selfsufficient in only fruits and vegetables, and it is for this reason that the Emir has invested in large agricultural areas overseas. The agricultural branch, (Hassad Food) of the nation’s wealth fund has in fact bought land in Sudan and Australia, announcing its plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on agricultural projects in countries such as Kenya, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey and Ukraine. Qatar has an added objective, which differentiates it from its Arab neighbours, and that is its aim to produce vast quantities for its own needs, and spending large amounts of money to increase its cereal production, converting its semi-arid lands into ones used for harvesting. For this reason at the start of 2012 passed, the Emir passed a bill for the establishment of Qatar’s National Food and Security Program, which will come into effect by 2014. Currently, there are 1400 factories and thanks to the new program; this will increase to 3 thousand. If new technologies are employed, and efficiency increased, food
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Page 7 and 8: oadcaster in Beirut have even annou
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Page 11 and 12: opposition members in exile, in par
Page 13 and 14: However, what has brought them to t
Page 15 and 16: Qatari citizens do not pay tax and

Qatar The Ambitions of a Rich Small Nation Micol Briziobello - Misna

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