Qatar’s position as a regional business destination has held firm through a period of significant global economic change, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Qatar said ahead of the next edition of Back 2 Business, scheduled in Doha on Wednesday.“In a period marked by significant global economic transformation, the event highlights Qatar’s continued resilience and its strategic role as a stable and dynamic business hub in the region. It provides a platform for open dialogue, long-term cooperation, and cross-sector partnerships,” Palma Libotte, president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, stated.Libotte explained that Doha’s hosting of this year’s edition of Back 2 Business reaffirms its position as “the largest international business networking platform in Qatar,” with a history spanning nearly 20 years.“Having witnessed Qatar’s remarkable transformation over the past 20 years, I can confidently say that Back 2 Business has consistently proven to be a high-level networking platform, widely appreciated by both the international and Qatari business communities. It continues to serve as a meaningful bridge for dialogue, collaboration, and long-term partnerships in an ever-evolving market,” Libotte told Gulf Times yesterday.Ilef Ajra, country representative for the German Industry and Commerce Office in Qatar (AHK Qatar), said such platforms carry implications beyond the networking room itself.“Events such as Back 2 Business play a key role in strengthening Qatar’s position as a global business hub by enabling foreign companies to actively contribute to national development through investment, expertise sharing, and long-term collaboration,” noted Ajra in a statement to this paper.Ajra added that the event embodies a broader economic vision: “Back 2 Business reflects a long-term vision of partnership, where international expertise and local ambition meet to create sustainable growth and reinforce Qatar’s diversified economy.”Jose Antonio Vicente, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Qatar, also emphasised that the chambers themselves serve a structural function in translating foreign interest into tangible local outcomes.“Chambers of commerce act as essential bridges between international companies and the local ecosystem, creating structured platforms where partnerships are built, and synergies are transformed into real economic impact for Qatar,” Vicente stated.He further noted that the participation of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors within the same setting produces a quality of dialogue that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.“By bringing together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, these initiatives foster meaningful dialogue that strengthens trust, encourages collaboration, and supports sustainable business development in Qatar,” he added.CCI France Qatar managing director Sandrine Lescaroux said the format of events like Back 2 Business accelerates what would ordinarily take considerably longer through conventional business channels.“High-level networking platforms like Back 2 Business allow decision-makers to meet in a focused environment, where strategic synergies can be identified quickly and turned into concrete opportunities for growth and cooperation,” she stated.She noted that the direct exchange of market intelligence is equally valuable for foreign investors still finding their footing. “One of the greatest values of such events is the direct exchange of market insights and updates, helping foreign investors better understand the Qatari market and align their strategies with its evolving economic landscape,” Lescaroux added.Back 2 Business, which the Italian Chamber of Commerce organises in collaboration with the American, German, French, and Spanish Chambers of Commerce, as well as the German and Dutch Business Councils, has run for close to two decades and is regarded as “the largest international business networking platform in Qatar,” stated Libotte, who added that LIFE, the global network of Lebanese professionals in the diaspora, is also supporting the event.Wednesday’s edition features a ‘Speed Networking Session’ and a ‘Market Experts Section’, where selected industry leaders host sector-specific tables and lead structured one-to-one meetings. Participation in the speed networking segment is limited to senior-level profiles: CEOs, general managers, presidents, and directors.Sectors represented at the Market Experts tables include food and agriculture, exhibitions and events, retail, asset management, facility management, legal services, artificial intelligence, insurance, corporate services, human capital advisory, and logistics.
