Qatar 2019 budget projects small spending boost\, return to surplus

Qatar 2019 budget projects small spending boost, return to surplus

Reuters  |  DOHA 

By Eric Knecht

Like other energy-exporting Gulf countries benefiting from higher oil prices, expects a substantial rise in revenues next year, despite an embargo imposed on by neighbouring countries since mid-2017 in a row over security issues.

But the world's biggest liquefied is adopting a conservative approach in its budget.

Spending is projected at 206.7 billion riyals ($56.8 billion) in 2019, up only 1.7 percent from the budget plan in 2018. That contrasts with a projected 20.5 percent jump in revenue to 211.0 billion riyals.

As a result, the government expects to post a 4.3 billion riyal budget surplus in 2019, swinging into the black after an estimated 28.1 billion riyal deficit this year.

Much of the expected revenue windfall is due to higher prices; next year's budget assumes an of $55 a barrel, up from $45 in the 2018 budget.

But is also imitating Gulf neighbours in boosting taxation. A tax will be imposed by the beginning of 2019 on some health-damaging goods, including a 100 percent levy on tobacco and drinks, and a 50 percent levy on sugary drinks.

NO VAT NEXT YEAR

However, the government said it would not go ahead with a value-added tax in 2019. and the introduced 5 percent VAT this year to reduce their dependence on oil revenues, but wants more time to assess the effects of VAT, a statement said.

Rory Fyfe, at Advisors, a regional research firm, said it made sense for Qatar to delay VAT as the cost of many items had already increased because of the embargo imposed by neighbouring Gulf states.

"It is also in Qatar's interests to keep living costs down and make Qatar a more attractive destination for expatriates.

"We estimate that VAT would add about 2 percent to the overall cost of living in Qatar," Fyfe said. "For now, the sin tax is a more palatable way to increase Qatar's non-hydrocarbon revenue than VAT and is in keeping with its efforts to promote the health and sports industries in the country."

Although the initial months of the boycott hit Qatar's economy hard, it mobilised some of its huge financial reserves to protect its banks and support economic growth, reducing the need for an expansionary budget in 2019.

Qatar has been spending heavily in the last few years on infrastructure projects, including facilities needed to host Some big items have now been completed, allowing projected spending on major projects next year to drop 3.6 percent to 89.6 billion riyals, the said.

However, the government still expects to award 48 billion riyals of contracts next year. "These new projects will boost economic growth in the country, especially in non-oil sectors," the ministry said.

(Writing by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Thu, December 13 2018. 23:09 IST