Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), working in collaboration with QNB Financial Services (QNBFS), today completed a two-day visit to London that aimed to support the further development and practice of QSE’s listed companies’ investor relations.The forum is designed to complement the companies’ ongoing investor relations activities through providing an opportunity for the senior management of listed companies to meet key decision makers from a number of the world’s largest international fund managers.The two days covered a combination of one-to-one and group meetings. Listed companies met with market-leading institutions who represented the most important funds allocating money to Qatar, the GCC and the broader emerging markets.
In aggregate the event and associated meetings secured over eighty meeting requests.The delegation was led by Rashid al Mansoori, CEO of Qatar Stock Exchange, who said: “We are pleased to once again be working with QNBFS in showcasing some of our leading companies. We believe developing a diversified investor base, including domestic institutions and a range of international institutional investors is central to the development of our equity markets. We recognize that this is an ongoing process and against a backdrop of volatile emerging market capital flows we need to continue to work hard to position Qatar as a competitive destination for portfolio investment.”Al-Mansoori said that H.H the Emir’s focus on the importance of reforming the legislative system to facilitate investment and reduce the bureaucratic process reflects his far-sighted vision. He added that such measures will help the country cope with the major tasks it faces in the new stage of economy-building and economic openness.Qatar Stock Exchange offers a fertile environment for investments, as it is ideally placed to best compliment Qatar’s economic diversification.
On this basis, QSE is considered a platform for the diversification of the economy as it is a platform for capital allocation and capital formation, as well as a platform for government privatization program and the development of SME’s through the QSE Venture Market. QSE is also a platform that includes a variety of economic sectors reflecting Qatar’s strong and vibrant economic fundamentals, Al-Mansoori concluded.On his part, Mr. Abdul Aziz Al Emadi, Director, Listing Department said “We acknowledge the commitment of our companies in attending such events as their investor relations’ efforts complement the work being done at a more macro-level; we have adopted as of 1st October, 2019 new mandatory IR Rules which will improve transparency and communication whilst in 2020 Qatar will join the growing number of exchanges who utilize XBRL in reporting and disclosure with the adoption of our Q-Disclosure Platform.”Thirteen listed corporates, representing blue-chip investment opportunities in the Qatari market used the opportunity to meet with the world’s leading fund managers. The Qatari companies participating were: Qatar National Bank, Doha Bank, Commercial Bank of Qatar, Masraf Al Rayan, Ooredoo, Industries Qatar (also covering Qatar Aluminium, Gulf International and Mesaieed Petrochemical), Qatar Gas Transport (Nakilat), Qatar Insurance, Qatar Islamic Bank and Qatar Electricity & Water.]