QBA hosts banquet in honour of US official

The Qatari Businessmen Association hosted a business luncheon preceded by a private meeting in honor of the visit of H.E. Francisco Sanchez the U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and his accompanying official and business delegation, at QBA’s second deputy chairman’s majlis Sheikh Khalid Bin Thani Al Thani.

QBA was headed by Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani the chairman accompanied  by QBA  board members: Sheikh Khalid Bin Thani Al Thani, Sheikh Hamad Bin Faisal Al Thani, Mr. Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Misnad and Mr. Omar Bin Hamad Al Manaa, and the presence QBA members: Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Mr. Khalid Al Mannai, Mr. Maqbool Habib Khalfan and Mr. Salah Murad.

The U.S. business delegation included 15 CEO’s and presidents of companies focusing on healthcare and water & waste management, including the following services and equipments and technologies: hospital and clinical laboratories equipments, pharmaceuticals, health care technologies, public health, hospital’s construction and design, IT software.

During the meeting the undersecretary Sanchez explained the mission’s objectives in introducing major U.S companies and private buying agents and other potential business partners. The U.S undersecretary also stressed the importance of the Qatari Market for U.S investors as it is one of fastest growing economies in the world, pointing on the increase of U.S exports by 580% between the period from 2000 – 2008 making the United States the largest import partner to Qatar. And in 2008 Qatar was the largest partner in the Middle East.

QBA’s chairman Shk. Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani welcomed the delegates to Doha saying this is the  right time for businessmen and private sector representatives of both countries to enhance the cooperation and further interact as the commercial relations between Qatar and the U.S are witnessing excellent growth, indicating that the bilateral trade volume grew by over 340% between 2003 and 2008 to a total of over 3.2 billion per year. Shk. Faisal also explained QBA’s role to the delegation in facilitating the communication and cooperation between business societies in both countries and saying we are ready to offer all services in the aim of promoting further business interaction and assisting potential investors to invest in the Qatari Market.

At the end of the meeting, the undersecretary Sanchez conveyed his gratitude and appreciation for QBA’s chairman in organizing the meeting and Shk. Khalid for hosting it and invited QBA members to visit the United States and discover closely business opportunities.