QBA Meeting with Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Mr. Richard Harrington MP
the Qatari Businessmen Association organized a meeting with HE Mr. Richard Harrington, UK Undersecretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in the presence of HE Mr. Ajay Sharma, UK Ambassador to Qatar. Where the two sides discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between both countries
From QBA, Mr. Hussein Al-Fardan, First Deputy Attended the meeting, also from QBA Members: Mr. Khalid Al Mannai, Mr. Nabil Abu Issa, Mr. Maqbool Khalfan and Ms. Sarah Abdullah, Deputy GM attended
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Hussein Al-Fardan welcomed the guests, pointing out the historical bilateral relations between Qatar and the United Kingdom. He also added that Qatari investments in the UK are considered one of the most successful investments’ models. Confirming the Qatari eagerness to develop this cooperation between both countries specially that the private sector in Qatar today was able to show the real potential it has and through which it can contribute in strengthening the local economy
For his part, HE Richard Harrington thanked QBA for the meeting. Adding that the United Kingdom looks forward to cooperating with Qatari businessmen to attract more investments, especially after leaving the European Union, where there are great opportunities to strengthen cooperation with UK partners. He pointed out the interest of HE Theresa May, British Prime Minister in developing the economic relations between the two countries. Mr. Harrington also expressed his admiration to Qatar's Stand from the blockade and the economic strategy followed by the country, pointing to the development of the Qatari market to include all sectors and not only rely on gas
QBA Members also talked about Qatar’s recently issued series of laws that regulate foreign investments and how these laws would attract more British investors. They also stressed the necessity of collaboration of the private sector in both countries and how can the British counterparts support Qatar towards the achievement of its self sufficiency
For his part, HE Mr. Ajay Sharma, UK Ambassador to Qatar, highlighted the need to study specific sectors that the two parties can focus on, such as the industrial sector, the fisheries projects, the pharmaceutical sector, medical devices and others. He added that after the blockade, Qatar has become more attractive to the foreign investor and that the Qatari market should be viewed as a regional center through which the investor can access a wide network of other international markets