Qatar and the United States: expanding cooperation and investment plans
2 October 2020
The Qatari business Association held a meeting with the temporary representative of the US Embassy in Doha. During the discussion, issues of expanding cooperation were raised and investment plans of the countries were considered.The Qatari business Association (QBA) met with the charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in Doha, Greta Holz, to discuss ways to expand cooperation with the US in economic sectors and explore potential investment opportunities in both countries.
The meeting was chaired by QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al Thani and attended by senior commercial Director Megan Schildgen and Mike Schroeder, economic Director. Other representatives of the Qatari Association also attended the meeting.
In his welcoming speech, Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani emphasized the special significance of the two countries ' bilateral relations and expressed hope for continued strategic cooperation in a number of the most important areas. He also noted that the United States is Qatar's largest direct investor and the country's main trading partner.
It was stated that at this stage, the Qatari private sector has reached a level of cooperation where it can offer to establish local and regional partnerships with a major strategic partner such as the United States.
During her visit, Holz said that her goal is to find ways to strengthen relations between Qatar and the United States. Qatar is able to attract even more American investors to its markets with the current incentives and privileges. A simplified system of market access and the availability of free trade zones are particularly attractive.
It was noted that the United States plans to increase the presence of American companies in Doha. Given Qatar's favorable regional location — the largest port in the region and an extensive logistics fleet that facilitates access to global markets, as well as the presence of an international airport—US cooperation with Qatar will expand shipping and transport routes.
The Qatari Association said national companies are also looking for new investment opportunities in the US market. As the state's economy is one of the largest and most competitive, it provides extensive opportunities for Qatari businessmen.
The need to further encourage and encourage American small and medium-sized companies to explore the Qatari market, as well as the importance of their support by the US government, was noted.
As a result of the meeting, both sides expressed their intentions to increase the presence of national companies in the markets, strengthen trade ties, and provide companies with financial support and privileges to facilitate their access to markets.