Qatar partially opens stock exchange to foreign investors

Qatar took a significant step Sunday, granting foreign investors access to its stock exchange and permitting them to hold stakes of up to 25 percent in listed companies.

Economy Minister Mohammed bin Ahmed al-Thani marked the occasion at an official ceremony, calling it the beginning of a new economic phase. Analysts had predicted the move would increase trading activity on the exchange, which carries a market capitalization of roughly 40 billion dollars.

Qatar, home to the world's third-largest liquefied natural gas reserves, aims to attract outside capital as part of a broader push to become the globe's leading gas exporter.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in April 2005, in its own words.