DOHA: The assets size of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has grown by 15 percent between July and September 2012 to about $115bn, according to a report published by Sovereign Wealth Funds recently.
The QIA maintained its ranking compared to the corresponding period last year. Previous year, it ranked 12th with a total asset value of $100bn.
According to the same source, in the month of September, there was a change in the top order of the sovereign funds. Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund ousted Abu Dhabi Investment Fund to occupy the first place with $656.2bn while Abu Dhabi Investment Fund slipped to second position with an asset value of $627bn.
The institute noted that sovereign fund assets witnessed a continuous rise since 2009, despite global economic crisis, and grew from $4 trillion assets in December to about $5.13 trillion.
It is noteworthy that the operations of the QIA and the companies operating under its umbrella are expanding as a result of acquisitions and direct investments carried out by the latter in many regions of the world, paving the way for the implementation of the strategy that includes mitigation of dependence on oil and gas and diversify sources of income inline with Qatar’s Vision 2030.
According to many experts and observers, Qatari investment is characterised with a diversification in different sectors including oil and gas, real estate, tourism and hotel sector, industry and trade and other economic activities, Al Sharq reported yesterday.
Experts also believe that the time is very suitable for promotion of the pace of Qatari investments abroad, especially in European markets, which is expected to be earnings higher returns in the coming years after the Eurozone crisis is over.
Qatar is also investing aggressively in emerging markets with a strategy to enable investments in these countries for greater opportunities of growth and returns.
The Peninsula
