Qatar seeks investment opportunities with US
● Virtual session on commercial co-operation held within the framework of the third Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue
Qatar is seeking to explore new investment opportunities with the US, including in US infrastructure projects, a senior official told a virtual session on commercial co-operation, organised yesterday within the framework of the third Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue.
“Qatar is keen to strengthen cooperation with the US to pursue the development of an ecosystem that reflects positively on both countries, including the necessary frameworks to protect intellectual property and provide guarantees for investors,” stated Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) undersecretary Sultan bin Rashid al-Khater.
He was co-chairing the session attended by Ian Steff, assistant secretary for Global Markets and director general of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service; and Peter Haas, principal deputy assistant secretary for Economic and Business Affairs.
A number of diplomats, ambassadors, senior officials and representatives of various governmental bodies and agencies from both countries participated.
“The third Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue was being held at a time of considerable global economic uncertainty and challenging trade dynamics,” al-Khater said while recalling that the events of recent months following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic have been unprecedented, and serve to remind all parties of the importance of global commercial relationships and supply chains.
“Qatar’s commercial relationship with the US serves as a strong foundation for bilateral ties, and by all measures is vital and getting stronger. I look forward to organising in the US the second round of the Economic Roadshow, which was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak,” the official said.
The Qatari-US trade relations have gained considerable momentum since the signing of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in 2004, with total trade now eight times more than it was 16 years ago, and twice the value of 2017, he observed.
US firms are increasingly active in Doha. American companies have been operating in Qatar for decades, as critical partners in the nation’s development. The Strategic Dialogue presented an opportunity to work together with the US to find new ways to strengthen bilateral ties, and explore new mechanisms of co-operation to bolster economic and trade relations, despite the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 crisis.