CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DR. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar

Qatar, US exploring new investment opportunities

Published: 27 Sep 2020 - 08:28 am | Last Updated: 01 Nov 2021 - 07:52 pm
Qatari Businessmen Association Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (sixth left), First Deputy to the Chairman Hussein Al Fardan (seventh right), Second Deputy to the Chairman Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani Al Thani (fifth left), with other officials a

Qatari Businessmen Association Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (sixth left), First Deputy to the Chairman Hussein Al Fardan (seventh right), Second Deputy to the Chairman Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani Al Thani (fifth left), with other officials a

The Peninsula

Doha: The United States is the largest global direct investor and the largest trading partner to Qatar, Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani has said at a meeting organised by the QBA with several officials from the US Embassy in Doha recently. 

The meeting was aimed at enhancing joint cooperation between Qatar and the United States in all economic sectors, as well as exploring potential investment opportunities in both countries. Charge’ d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Doha Greta Holtz, Senior Commercial Officer Megan Schildgen, and Economic Officer Mike Schreuder attended the event. 

QBA officials including First Deputy to the Chairman Hussein Al Fardan, Second Deputy to the Chairman Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, and Board Members Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani, Sherida Al Kaabi, and Saud Al Mana also attended the event. Other QBA members including Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad, Mohamed Althaf and Ihsan Al Khiyami, as well as QBA Deputy General Manager Sarah Abdallah, were also present during the meeting. 

During the event, Sheikh Faisal reiterated the strong bilateral relations between both countries, which continued to develop until reaching a notable level of strategic partnership in all fields. He added that the Qatari private sector continuously seeks to enhance opportunities for cooperation and support economic relations between the two countries. Qatar’s private sector was also able to establish local and regional partnerships through its strategic partnership with the United States, added Sheikh Faisal. 

Also speaking during the event, Holtz highlighted that the Qatari-US relations are based on solid foundations and a strategic partnership. She added that Qatar has the capabilities that qualify it to attract the American investors to its markets, pointing out the incentives Qatar provides, whether offered through its taxation system, or the ease of procedures, transparency, stability and security, in addition to the measures taken by the state for the benefit of the foreign investors in order to accelerate and facilitate foreign companies’ investment in the Qatari market. She also stressed the importance and the role of Qatar free zones.

During the meeting, the members discussed ways to increase cooperation between the two countries. 

Al Fardan referred to the need to increase the presence of American companies in Doha and create new partnerships. He also referred to the distinctive regional location of Qatar with the presence of the largest port in the region and a global logistical fleet that will facilitate access to global markets. 

He also referred to the Hamad International Airport, as it is one of the most important international airports which would enhance shipping and transportation routes between Qatar and its global partners.

Dr. Sheikh Khalid indicated that Qatari companies enjoy global competitive experiences and advantages and are always looking to search for partnerships and explore investment opportunities in global markets, especially from the US. He added that the US economy is attractive and provides great business opportunities for Qatari investments. 

He also lauded the efforts made by both countries to remove all challenges facing business owners from both sides.

For his part, Sheikh Nawaf stressed the need to encourage the US small and medium-sized companies to discover the Qatari market and the importance of providing support from the US government to them, so they can cooperate with Qatari businessmen and work in the Qatari market. 

This was confirmed by Schildgen, who is responsible for commercial relations at the US Embassy in Doha, through the presence of a specialised team to support small and medium-sized companies. This team presents an annual report to the US Congress on the support provided to the US companies and the methods of evaluation.