Qatar-US economic forum in Charleston today

The Qatar-US Economic Forum will be held in Charleston, South Carolina, today.
The forum is being organised by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) in co-operation with Qatar Chamber, US Chamber of Commerce, Qatari Businessmen Association, US-Qatar Business Council and a number of official US agencies.
The event is being held within the framework of Qatar’s ongoing economic roadshow in the US, which covers several American cities and aims at bolstering and expanding Qatari-US trade and economic relations, the MEC has said in a statement.
The forum provides an important platform for dialogue between businesspersons from both countries and also presents an opportunity to promote co-operation between the Qatari and American private sectors as well as to discuss the development of joint investment projects that will benefit both countries.
The forum will bring together more than 200 businessmen and Qatari officials along with some 200 businesspersons and CEOs of major American companies. Panel discussions will be held on the sidelines of the forum between representatives of the Qatari and American business sectors in a bid to strengthen existing economic partnerships.
The event will also feature discussions in the fields of food security, transportation and information technology.
Similar forums have already been held in Miami and Washington, DC as part of the first phase of Qatar’s economic roadshow in four US cities. After Charleston, the roadshow will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Meanwhile, HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani on Saturday met with the president of the University of South Carolina, Harris Pastides, on the sidelines of Qatar’s economic roadshow in Charleston, South Carolina.
Discussions touched on the prospects for co-operation in the economic, trade and investment fields and the promotion of relations. They also discussed the investment incentives that Qatar is offering and the economic diversification strategy pursued by the State to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030, the MEC has said in a statement.
HE the Minister and Dr Khamis Rashid al-Kaabi, consul-general of Qatar in Houston and Texas, attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) office in the US and the University of South Carolina, the official Qatar News Agency reported.
The MoU aims at encouraging collaboration and enhancing investment opportunities between the two entities.
The MoU was signed by the director of QIA’s office in the US, Mohamed Saif al-Sowaidi, and executive director at the University of South Carolina Office of Economic Engagement William Kirkland, on behalf of the university president.
“We are very pleased to reach this agreement with the University of South Carolina. The higher education community is central to research and development, innovation and future economic growth, and having an esteemed partner such as the University of South Carolina is a perfect complement to our efforts to invest in the US economy and help generate jobs and growth here and globally,” said al-Sowaidi.
“On behalf of the University of South Carolina, I am honoured to sign a memorandum of understanding with the QIA office in the US to collaborate on joint investment opportunities. We look forward to a long-term partnership with Qatar Investment Authority and Qatar,” said Harris Pastides.
The MoU creates a framework for future co-operation between the QIA office and the university. Under its terms, the two sides will work together to broaden and deepen their working relationship, consider business and investment opportunities in both Qatar and South Carolina and consider initiating and collaborating on joint investment activities.