The revenue story

There are many opportunities for generating revenue through the QFC. With unprecedented levels of economic growth in Qatar and the region, and a significant volume of committed investment in the immediate pipeline, the prospects for financial services companies to participate cover a wide spectrum.

The arguments for financial services institutions to "take a closer look" therefore are numerous:

• There is ample flexibility to build international businesses within the QFC's low-cost and high-quality environment, serving local, regional or global clients. This could include, for example, meeting the undercapacity in the regional insurance markets, serving growing regional oil & gas advisory requirements, or managing investment vehicles to finance local infrastructural projects.

• The economic growth of Qatar is enormous, amounting to some $130 billion in investment earmarked for projects up to 2012 and with GDP growing at < 10% the economic growth looks set to continue.

• Financing and infrastructure opportunities are significant - many are associated with Liquid Natural Gas, where Qatar is scheduled to be the world's largest supplier by 2010

• Qatar has the highest per capita income in the Middle East, and amongst the highest in the world, and this is due to increase is tune with the country's economic growth

• Qatar is also favourably positioned between Asia, the Far East & the West, with excellent working relationships that open up many financing and trading opportunities

• The government of Qatar has prudently managed the country's economic growth and has outstanding experience in key areas of financing including project financing, sovereign debt issuance, and Sukuk issuance.