Meeting with Expansion Exterior

Qatari Businessmen Association has hosted a meeting with a special delegation representing Expansión Exterior, an organization that supports Spanish export companies, headed by Ms. Carmen Rodriguez, Chairperson of Expansión Exterior, at its premises on Tuesday, February 22, 2005. The delegation was accompanied by HE Mr. Rafael Matos Carega, Spanish Ambassador to Qatar.

The meeting was held in presence of Mr. Issa Abu Issa, QBA Secretary General, Sheikh Nawaf Bin Nasser Al Thani, Board Member of QBA, together with QBA members Mr. Sherida Al Kaabi, Mr. Maqbool Khalfan, Mr. Bassam Massouh,General Manager of QBA, and Mr. Waleed Al Saadi representing Al Faisal Holding. Mr. Abu Issa began the meeting by emphasizing the vision of QBA that is serving the strategic vision of HH the Emir in promoting the role of the private sector, and he clarified the main objectives of the association.

During the meeting, the Spanish delegation raised the issue of establishing a bilateral business partnership between Qatari and Spanish companies, which aims at increasing the latter’s exports and commercial presence in Qatar. QBA members expressed their readiness for this business partnership given that it should be based on long term commitment as well as it has to target medium and small companies rather than focusing only on large ones. Both parties concurred on the importance of attracting direct investments from each country towards projects located in the other one.

By the end of the meeting, QBA members and the Spanish representatives agreed on preparing a Memorandum Of Understanding between the two organizations. They also expressed that they look forward to meeting again during the upcoming business trip of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, to Spain, in which QBA members will play a part and accompany the minister on March 6, 2005.