Doha: Qatar’s monthly foreign merchandise trade balance (surplus) witnessed an increase of 10.7 percent in August 2020 compared to previous month, showing a surplus of QR6.9bn, latest official data show. The trade balance represents the difference between total exports and imports for a particular period of time.

“This signification rebounding in trade surplus in August was achieved partially as a result of steady efforts in export promotion and import substitution, and also due to the gradual easing"...

Social commerce, which only five years ago was a relatively nascent concept in Qatar, is now growing at the same pace as the country’s booming e-commerce industry, and is now estimated to be worth $22m, an industry expert has said yesterday.

Everyday, the number of merchants selling items through Facebook, Instagram, Watsapp, and other social media platforms is increasing. And the number of social commerce merchants is expected to further"...

Buying stocks of firms listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) can be a good investment option for expatriates living in Qatar, the exchange’s chief executive officer has said.
“QSE is an alternative for investments when expatriates do not know what to do with their savings as we have opened up investment in the stock market for everybody in Qatar,” QSE CEO Rashid Al Mansoori said in an interview with The Business Year Qatar 2020.
“What option do you have to invest as an expatriate in"...

Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development (Bedaya Center), a joint initiative by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Silatech, has launched a new initiative to encourage Qatari entrepreneurs to obtain a home licence that will allow them to conduct commercial activities from their homes. The initiative has been launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).
The home licence is a drive for the expansion and development of entrepreneurs’ projects, which eventually contribute"...

Doha: The insurance industry in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority has proved its resilience despite the unprecedented challenges faced by the insurers due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). And the industry is expected to face other challenges and opportunities in the coming days, said a senior official of the QFC Regulatory Authority at an event yesterday.

Ewald Müller, Managing Director, Supervision & Authorisation, Qatar Financial Center Regulatory Authority, while speaking at a webinar"...

The government’s initiative to issue licenses to conduct commercial activities in residential properties through the Bedaya (Career Development) Centre is expected to further encourage self-employment and small businesses in Qatar.
With the new initiative, a large number of entrepreneurs can legitimise their home-based small businesses, expand their growth prospects, attract additional income and contribute towards enhancing the quality of local products.
The initiative, which will commence ahead of the"...