DOHA, Oct 16 — Qatar Finance Minister Ali Shareef Al Emadi stressed that Qatar remained one of the most attractive markets for investors with favourable investment opportunities across key sectors, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

In a press statement issued by the Finance Ministry on the occasion of Qatar's participation in the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington DC, the minister said the government had recently introduced measures to support continued investment and promote incentives for private companies and international investors looking to expand to the region.

Al-Emadi said Qatar's budget deficit was expected to decline over the next few years and economic prospects remained promising.

"Qatar and the US have long enjoyed a strong and mutually beneficial relationship, and our attendance at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank was an opportunity to further strengthen our relationship with US investors and stakeholders and highlight the avenues for collaboration,” he said.

The Qatari delegation to the meeting was led by Al Emadi and included the Governor of Qatar Central Bank Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al-Thani and members of Qatar's financial sector.

During the sessions, US private and governmental representatives were given an in-depth insight into Qatar's resilient financial and banking sector.

Discussions also focused on the continuing and growing opportunities for US investors and businesses in Qatar, and bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

Qatar remained one of the largest trading partners of the US in the Middle East region with imports increasing by 29 per cent in 2016. — Bernama