WASHINGTON: Qatar launched the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) with bold initiatives, aiming at boosting non-hydrocarbon productivity, enabling private sector-driven growth, and enhancing climate sustainability. The strategy’s emphasis is in line with past IMF advice and very much welcome, said a report issued by an International Monetary Fund team following its visit to Doha.

The team led by Ran Bi visited Doha during April 30–May 9, 2024 to gather facts on recent economic and financial sector developments, the outlook and the authorities’ policy actions and plans.

“NDS3 provides a blueprint identifying the strategic priorities and reforms needed in the years ahead (2024–30). The strategy is based on a candid assessment of past progress and lessons, highlighting the need to shift from a costly government-funded growth model to a more dynamic private sector-led one, with the state becoming an enabler,” Bi issued a statement at the end of the visit.

According to the statement, bold initiatives are proposed to accelerate diversification, boost productivity and competitiveness, and strengthen climate sustainability. This comprehensive and ambitious strategy is welcome, and its strategic emphasis is in line with past IMF advice.

“Qatar continues to demonstrate significant resilience against global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. The conflict in Gaza has had no visible impact on Qatar, and the tension in the Red Sea had delayed Qatar’s LNG export only temporarily due to re-routing. Qatar stands out as one of the few countries where the sovereign credit rating was upgraded by all three rating agencies over the past months. High frequency financial market indicators have confirmed Qatar’s resilience,” the statement said.

The post-World Cup growth normalization continued, with the 2023 real GDP growth estimated at 1.3 percent. Growth is likely to bottom out in the near term and gradually pick up to 1¾ percent in 2024–25, with non-hydrocarbon output growth supported by public sector investment, spillovers from the ongoing LNG expansion project, and strong tourism. The medium-term outlook is more favorable, with average growth expected to reach around 4½ percent, on the back of significant LNG production expansion as the North Field East and South projects complete, as well as more buoyant non-hydrocarbon growth as the implementation of NDS3 starts to bear fruit.

The recently announced North Field West project will increase LNG production by another 20 percent by 2030, further improving the medium-term growth outlook. Headline inflation is expected to ease to 2½ percent in 2024 and gradually converge to 2 percent over the medium term. The external and fiscal accounts will likely remain in surpluses over the medium term, assuming elevated hydrocarbon prices and sustained fiscal prudence. Risks to the outlook are broadly balanced, it added.

“Monetary policy has been consistent with the currency peg to the US dollar. The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has improved liquidity management through carefully calibrated T-bill issuance, contributing to greater monetary policy transmission. Supported by IMF technical assistance, the QCB is looking to further upgrade its liquidity management framework. Banks remain well-capitalized, liquid and profitable. The non-performing loans (NPLs) edged up to 3.8 percent in 2023Q2 (from 3.6 percent at end-2022) but they are well provisioned. The liquidity coverage and net stable funding ratios were high (at 174 percent and 140 percent, respectively, in 2024Q1).

The QCB measures to reduce banks’ short-term foreign asset-liability mismatches have encouraged longer-maturity domestic funding. The recently launched Third Financial Sector Strategy aims to deepen financial markets, promote savings, offer greater borrowing and investment opportunities, develop the insurance sector, foster fintech, and achieve greater financial inclusion.

“The team expresses its appreciation to the authorities for the open and productive discussions and for the arrangements made to facilitate the visit. The team met with Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, other senior government officials, and private sector representatives. We look forward to continuing the dialogue ahead of the 2024 Article IV Consultation”, the statement concluded.