US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker (second right) with Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani (second left) and QIIB chief executive officer Abdulbasit A al-Shaibei (right) and another US official in Washington, DC recently.
US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has stressed the need for developing economic and commercial relations between Qatar and the United States.
She also called for joint investments by the two countries in various sectors that would “further strengthen” bilateral ties and “boost” private sector activities in both Qatar and the United States.
Pritzker was speaking at a function in her office in Washington, DC recently, where she hosted Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani, second deputy chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and chairman of the Ezdan Holding Group.
QIIB chief executive officer Abdulbasit A al-Shaibei and senior US officials were also present.
She said American companies engaged in various sectors were keen to contribute to major projects being undertaken in Qatar, particularly those associated with the staging of FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Pritzker highlighted the presence of many major US companies in Qatar and said they would be keen to permanently contribute to the national economy. These companies seek to enhance economic and trade partnerships between the two markets.
On his part, Sheikh Dr Khalid praised the “advanced level of co-operation” between the US and Qatar, particularly in the field of economy. He stressed that such co-operation would not have been possible without the commitment of the two countries in creating a “great partnership”
Sheikh Dr Khalid said the Qatari private sector enjoyed “genuine partnership” with American companies in a number of areas and added that the government and private Qatari investments in this regard were worth about $17bn. There are about 380 American companies working in Qatar, which are involved in many infrastructure projects, and a number of economic sectors in the Qatari market.
Hailing the strong co-operation between the private sector in Qatar and the US, Sheikh Dr Khalid said, “Qatari private sector is ready for maximum cooperation with foreign companies for the benefit of the national economy. We are also keen to provide all the data required for the American companies to enter the Qatari market and implement their projects and investments in the country.” He pointed out that the Qatari economy was “rapidly evolving and growing fast at outstanding rates”, which have led to new business opportunities and significant investments in the country.
Sheikh Dr Khalid invited the US companies to take advantage of the promising opportunities being provided by the Qatari market.
Pritzker had visited Doha in March 2014, heading a large and important US business delegation representing various sectors and activities.
The United States is the largest foreign investor in Qatar with its exports to the Qatari market reaching nearly $3.6bn in 2013.
Qatar’s exports to the United States were worth about $3bn during the period and comprised natural gas, aluminum and byproducts, fertiliser, salt, sulphur, cement, chemical and organic materials, pearls and precious stones and metals.
Qatar and the United States have different agreements for joint co-operation, including one to encourage and protect joint investments, as well as another deal on economic, trade, technical, energy and media co-operation.