QATAR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SERVICE
U.S.-Arab Chamber, an Affiliate of the Qatar Chamber,
Participates in Ceremonies in Doha
The Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), the largest and oldest business entity in the State of Qatar, celebrated its 40th anniversary this week with a gala dinner that attracted business leaders from around the world. The National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), an affiliate of QCCI, traveled to Doha to represent the U.S. business community at the high-level event.
The gala dinner was attended by numerous dignitaries, including H.E. Yousuf Hussein Kamal, Qatar’s Minister of Finance and Economy. David Hamod, President & CEO of the U.S.-Arab Chamber, described the event as “an important milestone in the continuing growth and success of Qatar’s business community. QCCI has been a significant force in Qatar’s economic development for four decades, and it has an especially relevant role to play today, with Qatar experiencing the fastest economic growth in the world. Our chamber is proud and honored to be part of tonight’s anniversary event.”
H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al-Thani, Chairman of QCCI, linked his chamber’s success to the forward-looking vision of Qatar’s leadership. “We can say that the progression of achievements that began since H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani became Emir represents a huge jump, including all the socio-economic aspects of Qatari life,” he noted. “This has had positive effects on [our] society in general, and the State of Qatar -- regionally and internationally -- has become a focus of everyone. Qatar has become an influential actor in world events and in the prosperity, welfare, and stability of the world.”
According to research conducted by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, Qatar’s Real Gross Domestic Product is on track to grow 20 percent this year, the fastest in the world. Qatar is America’s fourth largest export destination in the Arab world, with U.S. goods and services exceeding $3 billion in 2010.
Qatar was recently selected to host the soccer World Cup in the year 2022, the first Arab and Islamic nation to do so. Qatar is also in the running to host the 2020 Olympics, and these world class sporting events have helped to create a “buzz” around Qatar’s aspirations and attendant business opportunities.
A Qatar Investment Forum held in New York City in May, for example, attracted more than 1,000 U.S. companies, including some 250 firms invited by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce. Two months later, NUSACC organized a high-level delegation of U.S. companies to visit Doha, where delegates were graciously received by H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, as well as H.E. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Chief of the Emir’s Court.
The evening’s celebrations also saw the launch of a commemorative book, Forty Years of Excellence and Achievements, which highlights QCCI’s successes over the years. The book was compiled by QCCI and G.E.O.C., which organized the gala dinner.
Remy Rowhani, QCCI’s Director General, expressed his appreciation to H.E. Sheikh Khalifa, the Chairman who, in his words, “expanded the Chamber from working on a local scale to working on a global scale, without overlooking its obligations to and the role of the country’s business community. The Chamber’s prestige now parallels the prestigious position of the State of Qatar internationally.”
Mr. Rowhani noted that the Chamber is redoubling its efforts to expand opportunities for Qatar’s growing business community, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These companies, he said, are “playing a significant role to improve competitiveness both locally and globally. SMEs, in our view, also have the potential to transfer the knowledge and expertise that our rapidly expanding market requires.” SMEs are also becoming an increasingly important focus for the Qatar Development Bank, lead sponsor of the gala event.
Mr. Rowhani concluded, “The past 40 years have been transformational for Qatar and Qatari businesses. In celebrating the successful passing of decades, let us reaffirm our commitment to leave a lasting legacy for the next forty years and beyond.”
The gala dinner was attended by numerous dignitaries, including H.E. Yousuf Hussein Kamal, Qatar’s Minister of Finance and Economy. David Hamod, President & CEO of the U.S.-Arab Chamber, described the event as “an important milestone in the continuing growth and success of Qatar’s business community. QCCI has been a significant force in Qatar’s economic development for four decades, and it has an especially relevant role to play today, with Qatar experiencing the fastest economic growth in the world. Our chamber is proud and honored to be part of tonight’s anniversary event.”
H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al-Thani, Chairman of QCCI, linked his chamber’s success to the forward-looking vision of Qatar’s leadership. “We can say that the progression of achievements that began since H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani became Emir represents a huge jump, including all the socio-economic aspects of Qatari life,” he noted. “This has had positive effects on [our] society in general, and the State of Qatar -- regionally and internationally -- has become a focus of everyone. Qatar has become an influential actor in world events and in the prosperity, welfare, and stability of the world.”
According to research conducted by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, Qatar’s Real Gross Domestic Product is on track to grow 20 percent this year, the fastest in the world. Qatar is America’s fourth largest export destination in the Arab world, with U.S. goods and services exceeding $3 billion in 2010.
Qatar was recently selected to host the soccer World Cup in the year 2022, the first Arab and Islamic nation to do so. Qatar is also in the running to host the 2020 Olympics, and these world class sporting events have helped to create a “buzz” around Qatar’s aspirations and attendant business opportunities.
A Qatar Investment Forum held in New York City in May, for example, attracted more than 1,000 U.S. companies, including some 250 firms invited by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce. Two months later, NUSACC organized a high-level delegation of U.S. companies to visit Doha, where delegates were graciously received by H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, as well as H.E. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Chief of the Emir’s Court.
The evening’s celebrations also saw the launch of a commemorative book, Forty Years of Excellence and Achievements, which highlights QCCI’s successes over the years. The book was compiled by QCCI and G.E.O.C., which organized the gala dinner.
Remy Rowhani, QCCI’s Director General, expressed his appreciation to H.E. Sheikh Khalifa, the Chairman who, in his words, “expanded the Chamber from working on a local scale to working on a global scale, without overlooking its obligations to and the role of the country’s business community. The Chamber’s prestige now parallels the prestigious position of the State of Qatar internationally.”
Mr. Rowhani noted that the Chamber is redoubling its efforts to expand opportunities for Qatar’s growing business community, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These companies, he said, are “playing a significant role to improve competitiveness both locally and globally. SMEs, in our view, also have the potential to transfer the knowledge and expertise that our rapidly expanding market requires.” SMEs are also becoming an increasingly important focus for the Qatar Development Bank, lead sponsor of the gala event.
Mr. Rowhani concluded, “The past 40 years have been transformational for Qatar and Qatari businesses. In celebrating the successful passing of decades, let us reaffirm our commitment to leave a lasting legacy for the next forty years and beyond.”
