Doha: Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), economist Dr. Abdullah Al Khater emphasized that the primary economic value of the Global Alliance for South-South Cooperation lies in bridging the gap between demand and supply by linking expertise, capital, and market needs through a unified, effective network.
Dr. Al Khater explained that the platform provides incentives for real participation rather than symbolic membership. By creating direct channels of communication among funding institutions, investors, and projects, the alliance dramatically reduces search costs, time, and effort. It builds trust by allowing entities to transparently evaluate partners, review historical project performance, and access vital market intelligence that previously posed barriers to development finance.
While noting that the network will require time to fully mature, Dr. Al Khater highlighted that economic demands and market indicators will guide its direction.
He stressed that adopting modern technology will minimize capital expenditures and improve returns, offering clear performance metrics for investors.
To prevent the platform from becoming a political or promotional venue, he urged for transparent reporting, competitive performance tracking, and the active inclusion of the private sector as a neutral, market-driven third party, backed by specialized managerial oversight.
The launch comes amid rapid growth in South-South economic engagement. Global South-to-South trade reached USD 6.8 trillion in 2025, with over half of developing nations' exports now directed toward other developing economies, up from 38 precent three decades ago.
Furthermore, intra-developing foreign direct investment flows have quadrupled since the 1990s, capturing 32 precent of global FDI between 2020 and 2023, underscoring the shift toward a more interconnected and self-reliant Global South.
