Global publishing firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) has signed an agreement with law firm Pinsent Masons, which will allow OBG to have access to the company’s resources for compiling the Law Chapter in its new report on Qatar.  

The Report: Qatar 2015 will explore amendments currently being made to Qatar’s labour laws and what the legislative overhaul means for investors.

It will also look in detail at the latest legal provisions, which oblige firms to remunerate workers by direct bank transfer, while considering other measures currently under review, such as proposed changes to the Kafala sponsorship system.

The publication will also shine the spotlight on Qatar’s huge infrastructure drive, which is rapidly building momentum ahead of the 2022 Fifa World Cup. Other subjects given coverage include Qatar’s efforts to create investment platforms for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular the key role that Manateq – the economic zones company - is playing in supporting entrepreneurial activity.

James Elwen, partner and head of Pinsent Masons’ Qatar Office, said he believed that OBG’s 2015 report would prove to be a valuable tool for investors looking to tap into the vast number of opportunities emerging in the country as 2022 draws closer.

“Qatar is currently enjoying an economic boom, with a raft of megaprojects taking shape that will require considerable participation from international industry experts,” he said. “I am thrilled that our team will contribute to Oxford Business Group’s forthcoming report by keeping investors and other interested parties updated on Qatar’s changing legal framework at this pivotal point in time.”

OBG’s country director Nihan Alan welcomed Pinsent Masons on board for the Group’s latest project, which marks its eleventh report on Qatar.

“Qatar is entering what promises to be one of its busiest-ever periods of economic activity, with projects worth an estimated $150bn earmarked for tender before 2017. These developments, which come against a backdrop of falling oil prices, support the government’s expectations that the non-hydrocarbons share of GDP will overtake the contribution made by oil and gas in 2015,” she said.

“We look forward to documenting this exciting new chapter in Qatar’s growth story, which will undoubtedly be of huge interest to investors, and are delighted that Pinsent Masons will ensure our readers are provided with comprehensive analysis of the state’s legal landscape.”

The Report: Qatar 2015 will be a vital guide to the many facets of the country, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments, a statement said.

The publication will include a first-time Trade and Investment Chapter, alongside a range of interviews with leading representatives and personalities, including the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Abdullah Saleh Mubarak Al Khulaifi. The report will be available in print or online. – TradeArabia News Service