US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith speaks about ‘Discover American-USA Week Qatar’ as Roger Hager and Jonathan Kines look on. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

 

By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter


The US-Qatar bilateral relations are at the best levels and both the countries enjoy the confidence of each other now more than ever before, US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith said yesterday while announcing the American Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever Discover America-USA Week Qatar’, scheduled for start on February 16.
The envoy said America’s friendship with this country was much deeper than the business and commerce relations between US and Qatar, while insisting that her country feels it is appropriate and important to celebrate the growing relations with Qatar through a week-long event such as the ‘Discover America-USA Week Qatar’, which involves a series of events starting with a high-level seminar featuring business leaders to an authentic American Chili cook-off.
The ambassador said the trade relations between the two countries had been growing at a phenomenal pace and her country’s exports to Qatar were worth more than $5bn in 2013. “I am pleased to say that there has been a growing interest among the Qatari nationals for pursuing educational programmes in American universities.  Right now more than 1,200 students from Qatar are studying in universities spread over 39 states in USA,” she said.
She said nowhere else the interest of the local students in the American educational programmes was better evident than at the Qatar Foundation, which plays host to 6 universities from the US these days.
Also speaking Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Qatar (AmCham) Robert Hager said their institution was the first legally established private and foreign chamber of commerce in Qatar.  “We began the spadework for our chamber’s establishment in Qatar in 2009 and a year later the AmCham Qatar started off with just about a dozen members on the rolls. Now, we have grown to a 130-odd body, featuring businessmen from diverse areas of activities.”
AmChamber, he said, is a private entity for public benefit and is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-political organisation dedicated to fostering co-operation and understanding between US and Qatar through trade, commerce and investment.
Being the champion of US businesses in this country, the AmCham feels business relations would contribute to the development of cultural relations as well, said Hager while explaining the strides made by his forum in the country.
The chairman said the AmCham was a vehicle moving at a fast pace to strengthen the US-Qatar relations, especially in the business.
Knowing too well the role played by the private sector in Qatar’s growth, the forum and the support extended by the local government to the private businesses, the AmCham hopes to bring a number of business, finance and industry professionals for the seminars to be held as part of the  “Discover America-USA Week Qatar’ celebrations.
“We, the US and Qatar, share similar attitudes on such crucial issues as growth, vision, innovation and independence  and the celebrations, we hope, would help the locals and other residents understand the potential for doing business and investing in the US economy, among other activities,” said Hager.  
The chamber also hopes to rope in some sport, business and cultural celebrities from the US during the week-long celebations while organising events in each of the three areas.
Vice President of the Middle East Business Solutions (MEBS) Jonathan Kines also spoke at the meeting.

Related Story