The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry in Qatar has helped to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the Middle Eastern country by 43 per cent, according to a UN study.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development's World Investment Report 2009, this sharp increase in FDI has brought not only financial benefits to Qatar, but has also brought a wealth of expertise and technical innovation to the national LNG industry.

The investment is also likely to have provided a boost for national skills development as companies invest in oil and gas training programmes to fill new positions in the growing industry.

Prominent among the international firms building skills development in the country is General Electric, which established a groundbreaking technology centre at the Qatar Science & Technology Park in 2007.

Among the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to see strong growth in 2008 was Saudi Arabia, which saw FDI inflows climb by 57 per cent during the year.

Getenergy event for GCC countries November 2009