HE the Qatar Central Bank governor Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud al-Thani has reviewed the latest developments in the country's financial sector, as well as ways and means by which the State of Qatar will be able to attract specialised American financial technology companies to come to Qatar and help banks improve the quality and efficiency of their offerings in this area.

This came in a speech delivered by Sheikh Abdulla during a special dinner hosted by the Qatar-US Business Council and the American Chamber of Commerce on the eve of the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) being held in Washington from October 18 to 20.

In his speech, Sheikh Abdulla highlighted the Qatari-US economic relations, and the increasing bilateral trade volumes Qatar, touching on the main partnership areas between Qatar and the US.

He also stressed the importance of the US as a strategic partner to Qatar, pointing out that all economic indicators confirm the steady improvement in economic relations between the two sides.

Sheikh Abdulla explained that the unjust embargo imposed on Qatar has obliged the State to reconsider its international trade relations, and thus, the State has become more open, diverse and more self-reliant than it was before the blockade.

He pointed out that Qatar has become more ambitious, independent, and focusing on globalism, while insisting on strengthening and expanding its relations with important partners.

"With regard to bilateral relations with the United States, Qatar is looking ahead to the future and is committed to finding more ways and alternatives to encourage stronger relations between the financial sectors in Qatar in the United States," he said.

During the function, attended by companies from all sectors related to financial technology (fintech) and banking sectors, Sheikh Abdulla was also engaged in bilateral discussions with the participating companies to learn about their best practices and prospects of benefiting from them in the financial and banking sectors in Qatar.