QBA, French delegation discuss ways of co-operation, investment opportunities
The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) organised a business lunch for the Mouvement des entreprises de France (Medef) delegation led by Medef’s French-Qatari Committee chairman Guillaume Pepy.
QBA first deputy Hussain Alfardan and board member Sherida al-Kaabi, as well as other QBA members received the delegation, which was accompanied by French ambassador Franck Gellet.
QBA members present during the event were Saud al-Mana, Dr Hussein al-Abdullah, Khalid al-Mannai, Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad al-Thani, Ashraf Abu Issa, Abdul Salam Abu Issa, Maqbool Khalfan, and Ihsan al-Khayami.
Also attending the private lunch was Qatar Financial Centre CEO Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, and QBA deputy general manager Sarah Abdullah.
In a speech, Alfardan welcomed the delegation, while underscoring Qatar-France historical relations. He also stressed on the keenness of Qatari businessmen to discuss ways of co-operation and potential investment opportunities with their French counterparts in both Qatar and France.
The French delegation thanked QBA for hosting the meeting, noting that Medef will conduct business visits between private sector stakeholders from both the countries to discuss means of developing the bilateral trade.
During the event, QBA members discussed the economic developments taking place in Qatar, and stressed on the QBA’s role in studying the investment frameworks between the two countries and how to enhance partnership and co-operation opportunities.
On the other hand, the French side stressed on the existence of broad prospects for cooperation in many fields, including medical care and health technologies, tourism, industry, smart city solutions, science, and other sectors in innovative technology.
QBA members also stressed that the Qatari economy is moving towards diversification, according to the National Strategy 2017-2022 and the Qatar National Vision 2030. They highlighted the attractiveness of Doha to foreign investors, which had witnessed hundreds of trade delegations to visit during the past months.
They also noted that co-operation between the French and Qatari private sectors will benefit both economies because the exchange of experiences, the promotion of co-operation, and joint co-ordination in new and innovative sectors will help both sides move forward with their respective strategic development plans.
Medef is France’s largest employer union. Established in 1998, it has more than 750,000-member companies, 90% of which are small and medium-sized enterprises. Each year, Medef International organises a number of French business delegations to visit different countries to promote economic relations.