IBCQ’s ‘proactive strategy’ to link Italian businesses to Qatar

Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem al-Thani (third left) and Italian Business Council of Qatar chairperson Palma Libotte with other QBA members during the formal launching of the IBCQ.

By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter

The chairperson of a newly-launched business chamber in Qatar is aiming to boost the influx of Italian firms to the country via a “proactive strategy” that would benefit both the local business sector and their European counterparts.On the occasion of the launch of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Qatar yesterday, chairperson Palma Libotte said: “The IBCQ, which has been operating in Qatar since 2004, is now a governmental body; The Ministry of Foreign Development in Italy has endorsed us as the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Qatar.”Italian Ambassador Guido de Sanctis and Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem al-Thani attended the launching ceremony.

Libotte said the IBCQ was planning to take a small delegation of Qatari entrepreneurs to Italy and visit a variety of production sites of pre-selected companies that cater specifically to their needs.

Rather than wait for Italian companies to come to Qatar, Libotte noted that this “proactive strategy” saves Qatari businesses time and effort.

She also announced the chamber’s plan to launch a new website named ‘Italian products 4 Qatar’ — a site that would serve as a product finder that will showcase products of Italian companies that are already visible in the Qatari market. De Sanctis, in his opening speech, noted that there has been a 15% increase in the total trade volume between Qatar and Italy last year. He also stressed that the growth in merchandise exchange between the two countries underlines the strong and stable relationship of Qatar and Italy.

He also encouraged other companies present during the launching of the chamber to join the IBCQ.

Libotte stressed that the IBCQ must be quick in capturing business opportunities in light of the developments in Qatar that are going on “a very fast pace.” She explained that the chamber will be diligent in formulating a screening process to assist Italian and Qatar companies in doing business. She added that the Italian Chamber of Commerce will also assist in providing information that would attract the right entrepreneurs from Italy to come to Qatar “with clear objectives and determination.”

Libotte revealed that Italian companies “are not sufficiently aggressive” when approaching the Qatari market. She said the role of the IBCQ is to help Italian businesses clarify their objectives; provide them with suitable proposals; and follow-up their meetings and requests for quotations.

The IBCQ chairperson also noted that her group is looking forward to staging “frequent mixed sessions” between international business organisations and other Qatar-based business chambers to determine which companies are needed for current projects in the country.

According to Libotte, the IBCQ was officially appointed by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development as Italy’s exclusive business chamber in Qatar.

The IBCQ, she said, was a mixed chamber that has some 30% of Qatari companies in affiliation. Their Italian counterparts, meanwhile, are operating in the construction, engineering, oil and gas, and services sector in Qatar.

The Italian chamber, she added, is an active participant in trade missions, exhibitions, networking events, and media relations. It also monitors Italian entrepreneurs’ trips to Qatar and promotes strong and healthy business relations between Italian and Qatari companies.