Qatar's economy minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim al-Thani has been appointed chairman of the Gulf state's stock exchange, the bourse said on Sunday, in a move apparently intended to raise the exchange's international profile. The exchange's previous acting chairman was Hussein Ali al-Abdullah, an executive director of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund.
The statement by the exchange also named eight board members for the exchange including businessman Ali Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, who will serve as a representative for listed companies. Other members of the eight will represent the QIA and other interests. "Having the minister of economy as the chairman gives the exchange a higher profile and boosts its reputation, and it will be more attractive to investors," said an industry source.