‘It’s a different world today than … when the pandemic started’

The global economy is unlikely to worsen due to the coronavirus pandemic even as countries face a second wave of infections, Qatar’s Commerce and Industry Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari told Reuters.

He was forecasting a recovery somewhere between a ‘U’ and ‘V’ shape.

“I think we have already seen the (economic) impact (of the pandemic). Is it going to get worse? I don’t think so,” the minister told Reuters by phone.

“It’s a different world today than … when the pandemic started,” he said.

Al-Kuwari said he expected the recovery to be faster than a gradual rebound but slower than a sharp uptick, though cautioned it would depend on when a vaccine for the virus could be found.