Singapore Business Council Qatar (SBCQ) registered with the Qatar Financial Centre, has hosted its third networking session in Doha.
The SBCQ was established to promote trade between Singapore and Qatar.
It is envisaged to be a socially active organisation representing a broad membership base comprising of mainly Singaporean professionals and business people across all industry sectors.
Its role is to assist both new and existing Singaporean businesses wanting to start up and expand on commercial opportunities in Qatar through regular meetings and events that facilitate a purposeful exchange of views, opinions and experiences.
SBCQ president and Commercial Bank Group chief executive officer Joseph Abraham said: “The bilateral trade volume between Qatar and Singapore has grown 10% year-on-year to hit $7.2bn in 2018 and Qatar is Singapore’s third largest trading partner within the GCC countries.
Over the years, Singapore Inc has increased its presence in Qatar, with the notable examples of Keppel Seghers Engineering in a design-build-operate project in the Doha North Sewage Treatment Works; a JV between Keppel Offshore & Marine with Nakilat to provide repairs and maintenance for vessels; SECC Group with the successful re-furbishing of The St Regis Hotel and Resorts Qatar and fit-out of a 5-star hotel in Lusail; and CrimsonLogic providing innovative and sustainable e-services for Qatari government agencies.”
Abraham also highlighted Singapore’s achievements in the energy sector saying: “Pavilion Gas Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Pavilion Energy, received its inaugural LNG shipment from Qatar Gas at Singapore’s Jurong Island in April 2018 and ExxonMobil Trading Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (EXTAP), a division of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd in Singapore, signed a five-year contract with Qatar Petroleum to supply 6mn barrels of low sulphur condensate per year, starting in July 2019.”
Singapore Ambassador Jai S Sohan said, “The formation of the Singapore Business Council in Qatar was announced during the state visit of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Singapore in October 2017.
The SBCQ was subsequently inaugurated in Doha in March 2018 by the Singapore business community in Qatar, with the support of the Singapore Embassy.
“One of SBCQ’s objectives is to increase the visibility of Singapore businesses and professionals in Qatar.
We hope this will also facilitate greater awareness of local business practices and increase Singapore’s engagement of the Qatari market.
In the longer term, we hope this bilateral co-operation can also be expanded to include co-operation with other countries, such as those in Asean.”
Last month, Qatar Chamber hosted a delegation from Singapore specialising in security systems, tech solutions, and cyber security.
There is a keen interest to enhance co-operation and explore business opportunities between Qatar and Singapore in all economic aspects, including the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector.
In April 2019, Qatar Chamber held a forum for a group of diversified Singapore companies, aimed at strengthening trade relations between the two countries and exploring partnership potentials in the areas of civil infrastructure, urban development, shipping & warehousing and e-solutions.
The networking event was well attended with 100 Singaporean professionals working in Qatar, besides other members of the local business community with close connection to Singapore.
It is envisaged to be a socially active organisation representing a broad membership base comprising of mainly Singaporean professionals and business people across all industry sectors.
Its role is to assist both new and existing Singaporean businesses wanting to start up and expand on commercial opportunities in Qatar through regular meetings and events that facilitate a purposeful exchange of views, opinions and experiences.
SBCQ president and Commercial Bank Group chief executive officer Joseph Abraham said: “The bilateral trade volume between Qatar and Singapore has grown 10% year-on-year to hit $7.2bn in 2018 and Qatar is Singapore’s third largest trading partner within the GCC countries.
Over the years, Singapore Inc has increased its presence in Qatar, with the notable examples of Keppel Seghers Engineering in a design-build-operate project in the Doha North Sewage Treatment Works; a JV between Keppel Offshore & Marine with Nakilat to provide repairs and maintenance for vessels; SECC Group with the successful re-furbishing of The St Regis Hotel and Resorts Qatar and fit-out of a 5-star hotel in Lusail; and CrimsonLogic providing innovative and sustainable e-services for Qatari government agencies.”
Abraham also highlighted Singapore’s achievements in the energy sector saying: “Pavilion Gas Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Pavilion Energy, received its inaugural LNG shipment from Qatar Gas at Singapore’s Jurong Island in April 2018 and ExxonMobil Trading Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (EXTAP), a division of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd in Singapore, signed a five-year contract with Qatar Petroleum to supply 6mn barrels of low sulphur condensate per year, starting in July 2019.”
Singapore Ambassador Jai S Sohan said, “The formation of the Singapore Business Council in Qatar was announced during the state visit of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Singapore in October 2017.
The SBCQ was subsequently inaugurated in Doha in March 2018 by the Singapore business community in Qatar, with the support of the Singapore Embassy.
“One of SBCQ’s objectives is to increase the visibility of Singapore businesses and professionals in Qatar.
We hope this will also facilitate greater awareness of local business practices and increase Singapore’s engagement of the Qatari market.
In the longer term, we hope this bilateral co-operation can also be expanded to include co-operation with other countries, such as those in Asean.”
Last month, Qatar Chamber hosted a delegation from Singapore specialising in security systems, tech solutions, and cyber security.
There is a keen interest to enhance co-operation and explore business opportunities between Qatar and Singapore in all economic aspects, including the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector.
In April 2019, Qatar Chamber held a forum for a group of diversified Singapore companies, aimed at strengthening trade relations between the two countries and exploring partnership potentials in the areas of civil infrastructure, urban development, shipping & warehousing and e-solutions.
The networking event was well attended with 100 Singaporean professionals working in Qatar, besides other members of the local business community with close connection to Singapore.
