* During a WAIPA-hosted webinar, Sheikh Ali talked about the importance of focusing on business continuity and resilience as nations and firms transition towards a new economy
Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPA Qatar) is working with licensing platforms in the country to “make sure the landscape is equipped and ready for new investment ventures in the post-Covid era”, said its CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani.
He was addressing a webinar hosted by the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) recently.
Titled "IPAs’ role in a post-Covid-19 world: how an integrative approach can create a more resilient and sustainable investment ecosystem", the virtual event brought together the heads of four IPAs from around the world to exchange best practices and share insights on the topic.
Speakers in the webinar, which was moderated by WAIPA CEO Bostjan Skalar, were IPA Qatar’s CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani; Business France’s Deputy CEO and head (Investment Promotion) Marie-Cecile Tardieu; Malaysian Investment Development Authority’s Deputy CEO, Ahmad Khairuddin Abdul Rahim; and the head (Communications) at the Investment Office of the Presidency of Turkey, Bekir Polat.
The event kicked off with Skalar congratulating Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani on IPA Qatar’s first anniversary and the recent launch of the Invest Qatar brand.
He said, “On behalf of WAIPA, I would like to congratulate our member, IPA Qatar, on the occasion of its first anniversary as well as welcome to the global FDI network the recently launched Invest Qatar brand. Throughout its first year, we have witnessed IPA Qatar’s active role in the scene by engaging and partnering with many relevant institutions around the world.”
Following an overview of Covid-19’s effects on Qatar’s economy, the IPA Qatar CEO highlighted the "crucial" role of multilateral co-operation in expanding investment opportunities.
Sheikh Ali elaborated, “A full recovery from the pandemic will require multilateral co-operation among all economic stakeholders. So far, we had bilateral discussions with a number of other IPAs and are keen on taking the conversation further with our international counterparts and complementary institutions. In parallel, we are working with licensing platforms in Qatar to make sure the landscape is equipped and ready for new investment ventures in the post-Covid era.”
During the webinar, Sheikh Ali talked about the importance of focusing on business continuity and resilience as nations and firms transition towards a new economy.
Additionally, he discussed the growing role of the digital sector in Qatar’s march towards a knowledge-based economy, and the need for all parties involved to accelerate digital transformation in the recovery and post-recovery phase, which he said requires a sustainable ICT Infrastructure at its core.
It is worth mentioning that WAIPA’s webinar complements IPA Qatar’s ‘FDI Digital Dialogue Series’. The series recently kicked off to actively engage and collaborate with partner IPAs and other global FDI stakeholders, with the aim of developing a more resilient and sustainable investment ecosystem on a national and global level.
The Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPA Qatar) oversees investment promotion activities under the ‘Invest Qatar’ brand and acts as the country’s key organisation for FDI attraction.
Through its vast resources and close co-ordination with Qatari licensing platforms, IPA Qatar helps businesses advance their ambitions and achieve long-term success by delivering the support, advice, and expertise needed.
IPA Qatar’s goal is to showcase Qatar as an “exceptional” investment destination, connecting international investors to lucrative business opportunities, while bringing progress to the country’s economic development and diversification goals across sectors and geographies.
