DOHA: Participants at the Qatar-US Economic Forum in Miami reviewed the investment opportunities available in the local market in various fields during two working sessions held on the sidelines of the forum on investment challenges and opportunities and how to establish bilateral partnerships that benefit both sides.
The two sessions were organized by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce in cooperation with the Qatar Chamber, United States Chamber of Commerce, Qatar Businessmen Association and US-Qatar Business Council, as part of Qatar’s four-states economic tour. The two sessions included a review of opportunities and challenges and how to build constructive partnerships between Qatar and the US, according a QNA report.
The first working session discussed the challenges of joint venture opportunities in the field of investments and tourism in Qatar, where Director of Business Development and Investment Promotion at the Ministry of
Economy and Commerce Abdulbasit Al Ajji said that the Ministry is working to support and strengthen all sectors and is the gateway to the establishment of investments in Qatar, adding that there was an initiative during the past year to review policies and procedures, in addition, to enhance investments opportunities for investors from around the world. He pointed out that the first thing the investor is looking at is to benefit from the improvement in economic performance.
Al Ajji noted that in view of the economic indicators according to the Global Competitiveness, Qatar has achieved the best figures internationally, and is ranked first in terms of the security climate in the region, the third in the field of direct government procurement, which allows companies to work well, and fifth for the provision of capital as well as the availability of scientists and engineers.
He presented a detailed explanation of how to start a business in Qatar and the role played by the Ministry in facilitating the business environment and enhancing the flow of foreign investment.
CEO of Qatari Diar Real Estate Company Nabeel Mohammed Al Buenain reviewed the company’s projects in the US, which have contributed to creating many opportunities in the US economy.
He added that that the company has many partnerships in this area and is currently focusing in the US on the project City Center DC. He pointed out that Qatari Diar is seeking partnerships for its projects around the world.
Regarding Lusail city projects, Al Buenain explained that Qatari Diar projects in Lusail city in northern Qatar are among the important development project, especially that the city will be one of the tributaries of future development and there are many investment opportunities in the land allocated for housing, schools, and hospitals, as the city will receive about 450,000 people and has hotels and beaches. He added that Lusail city will be for work and housing as well as people with low incomes and different levels.
CEO of Qatari Diar called on investors to be partners in several projects in Lusail, explaining that the land would be sold to investors via specific people. He pointed out that about 331,000 meters were allocated to private schools, 63,000 meters for medical buildings, about 42,000 meters for the retail sector, one million meters for housing, 250,000 meters for hotels, 110,000 meters for offices and 627,000 meters for various uses.
For his part, Saoud Al Buenain, from Qatar Development Bank (QDB) explained QDB’s services in various sectors, including Jahiz 1 and Jahiz 2, which provide financial services to build and establish small businesses incubated through small loans supported by the Government of Qatar and under one umbrella in Qatar.
He pointed out that this serves the private sector and commercial markets through the establishment of small markets that help citizens to build businesses.
Al Buenain noted that Qatar Development Bank is also on the small projects and provide the tools for these projects to achieve progress in the markets through facilitating procedures, training and supporting the business environment.
