Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani has underscored the key importance of robust Qatar-American relationships in different fields of co-operation.
According to Sheikh Khalifa, the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to the region and Qatar is considered his first foreign visit outside the US in his second presidential term.
In an interview with Gulf Times, Sheikh Khalifa explained that Trump’s visit to Qatar affirms the strong relationship that has developed between both countries over the past 60 years, citing the US as a major strategic partner of Qatar, as well as a major security and economic partner of Qatar and it neighbours in the region.
Sheikh Khalifa noted that the volume of Qatar-US trade exchange exceeded QR23bn, adding that US exports to Qatar are “five times” what the country exports to the US. Further, he said the US is a major market for Qatari investments in various fields like agriculture, infrastructure, industry, and various other business sectors.
He emphasised that Qatar has played a major political role and was able to negotiate the release of hostages and exchange of captives, and reach peaceful settlements in various areas of conflict, such as Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, and other places. Qatar has played a pioneer role in such issues, Sheikh Khalifa pointed out.
Sheikh Khalifa underscored the upcoming visit of Trump to the Gulf, saying this indicates the importance of the region in attaining world stability. He explained that the countries of the region contain the most important energy resources like oil and gas.
“Besides, Qatar, in particular, has been highly supportive of US negotiations regarding Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Africa, and other places. Similarly, the US always co-operates with the countries of the region on various political and security issues,” he explained.
Sheikh Khalifa pointed out that the key sectors that see considerable development of co-operation between the US and Qatar include technology and industry, as major US companies like Google, Microsoft, and other US giant tech companies are operating here. “They have successful investments in Qatar, which indicates the importance of the Qatari market as a regional centre for the Middle East Area,” he noted.
Sheikh Khalifa said, “There has been a constant exchange of Qatari and US business delegations. On May 18, Qatar Chamber is set to receive in Doha a US business delegation that represents major US companies in all fields, including tech and aviation companies like Boeing and Microsoft.
“The companies represent different US states. During the delegation’s visit to Qatar, these companies will network and exchange views with key players in the Qatari business community on the future of joint investments between the two sides.”
Asked about potential challenges faced by Qatari businessmen in the US, Sheikh Khalifa said the US market “is open with adequate laws, systems, and regulations.”
He said, “The US receives the largest number of global investments. Qatar has maintained excellent investments there, particularly in the hydrocarbon industry. Qatar and the US are partners in very important investments in the energy fields, such as the largest station to export LNG in the Gulf of Mexico, to receive Qatari LNG.
“This station has evolved into a central hub for exporting LNG to markets worldwide. Additionally, all major international US gas and petroleum companies partner with Qatar, both within the country and in the US and other nations around the world.”
Sheikh Khalifa stressed that both the Qatari and US markets are open for foreign investments. He said there are 410 US companies with 100% American capital, in addition to 320 joint Qatari-US companies operating throughout Qatar in various sectors. There also many Qatari companies that operate in the US, he also said.
Regarding Qatar-US co-operation in the field of education, Sheikh Khalifa stressed that education is one of the key fields of co-operation, as seven major US universities are operating in Qatar at Qatar Foundation. He also pointed out that the US is considered a major destination for Qatari students.
“There are a good number of Qatari officials who graduated from US universities. In the meantime, there is a lot of co-operation between Qatar and the US in the fields of research, engineering, medicine, Information Technology (IT), business, and politics, among others,” Sheikh Khalifa added.
Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani.
