DOHA – Qatar's economy grew 6.9 percent year-on-year in inflation-adjusted terms in the first quarter helped by a jump in the construction industry, Qatar Statistics Authority said Sunday, citing preliminary data. Real gross domestic product rose by 3.0 percent in January-March compared with the previous three months. Latest comparable growth rates for the final quarter of 2011 are not available, the authority said, as it has been revising the GDP data for 2011 and 2010. Qatar is leading GCC with regards to spending on scientific research, allocating 2.8 percent of GDP on research and development projects since 2009. – SG
