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Qatar Central Bank Governor and Qatar Investment Authority Chairman Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani met with Steven Mnuchin on Saturday in advance of the Qatar Economic Forum UNGA Special Edition. The discussions focused on key global financial and investment developments along with related topics, according to Qatar News Agency. Sheikh Bandar’s dual role underscores the alignment between Qatar’s monetary policy and its sovereign investment strategy at a time of heightened international economic dialogue.
The meeting comes one day before the Qatar Economic Forum convenes in New York on September 20 under the theme “Growth on New Terms: Capital, Risk and Resilience.” The event, powered by Bloomberg in collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will feature high-level participants including the Qatari Prime Minister, QatarEnergy’s president and chief executive, Citi’s chair and chief executive and Goldman Sachs’ chairman and chief executive. Conversations are expected to address geopolitical shifts affecting the global economy, energy outlooks, rewired trade flows and capital allocation amid volatility.
Steven Mnuchin founded Liberty Strategic Capital in 2021 following his tenure as the 77th United States Treasury Secretary from 2017 to 2021. The Washington-based private equity firm concentrates on technology, financial services, fintech and new forms of content, with past investments spanning cybersecurity platforms, satellite imaging and mobile security solutions. Mnuchin’s extensive experience in both public finance and private markets has made him a frequent interlocutor in Gulf investment circles.
Qatar Central Bank figures show total assets reached 313.5 billion riyals by the end of August, a 2.02 percent rise from the same month in 2025 although down 3.51 percent since December. The annual increase was propelled by a 350.54 percent jump in balances with foreign banks to 62.76 billion riyals together with a 29.28 percent expansion in gold reserves to 60.09 billion riyals. These holdings illustrate Qatar’s emphasis on diversifying reserves and reinforcing external financial buffers.
The broader Qatari banking sector maintained asset stability near 2.194 trillion riyals in July while loans grew 0.6 percent month-on-month to 1.482 trillion riyals, a QNB Financial Services assessment found. Public-sector lending provided much of the impetus even as private-sector demand remained subdued, pushing the loan-to-deposit ratio to 139 percent under conventional measurement. Liquidity indicators stayed robust with liquid assets comprising 30 percent of total assets.
Such financial strength forms the backdrop for Qatar’s continued high-level engagement with global investors and former policymakers. The Qatar Investment Authority, chaired by Sheikh Bandar, ranks among the region’s most active sovereign funds in international markets. Saturday’s meeting reflects ongoing efforts to exchange perspectives on capital deployment and risk management at a pivotal juncture for the world economy.
