Qatar - National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry:
Supporting the National Economy
Established in 1963, the Qatar Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) is
one of the oldest chambers in the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC). Initially structured
as a government agency, QCCI has
operated independently since 1990.
“The Qatar Chamber of
Commerce and Industry plays
an important role in supporting
the national economy,” explains
QCCI Chairman H.E. Sheikh
K ha lifa bin Ja ssim bin
Mohammad Al-Thani. “The
services it offers locally, regionally, and internationally
help businesses overcome obstacles
in order to achieve the desired economic and
social growth.”
QCCI was recently chosen to host the
Eighth World Chambers Congress (see inset
box) in 2013, the year of QCCI’s 50th
anniversary celebration. “This event will offer
an exceptional degree of inclusiveness and a
dramatic capacity-building initiative,” says
Sheikh Khalifa. “More importantly, though,
it will create an extensive movement in these
countries after the event to build on the
networking contacts made at the Congress
and to utilize the information gathered through
the Business Program,” Al-Thani added.
As a reflection of QCCI’s commitment
to sustainability and responsible urban
development, the 2013 Congress will be a
completely green event with a focus on the
environment. Preserving and protecting the
environment is one of the essential pillars of
“The Qatar Chamber of Commerce
and Industry plays an important role
in supporting the national economy.
The services it offers locally,
regionally, and internationally help
businesses overcome obstacles
in order to achieve the desired
economic and social growth.”
H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin
Mohammad Al-Thani, QCCI Chairman
Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and many
Qatar Chamber members have signed on to
the United Nations Environmental Program’s
drive for sustainable development.
Green development and sustainability are
very important to Qatar, says Sheikh Khalifa.
“This is significant for our country and the
region. It is the way of the future, and the
Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry
intends to lead the way,” he emphasizes.
QCCI sponsored the
November 2010 “Humanization
of Cities of Tomorrow”
conference in Doha. It also
plans to sponsor the Qatar
International Environmental
Protection Technologies and
Sustainable Energy Exhibition that will be
held at the Doha International Exhibition
Center in September 2011.
The Chamber’s many activities in support
of Qatar’s private sector range, for example,
from economic initiatives to advocacy to
long-term financing to workshops on corporate
social responsibility.
Qatar to Host Eighth
World Chambers
Congress in 2013
The Qatar Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (QCCI) was recently awarded
the opportunity to host the 8th World
Chambers Congress, to be held in Doha
in 2013.
“The State of Qatar will be the first
country in the Arab world to host the World
Chambers Congress,” explained QCCI’s
Chairman, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim
bin Mohammed Al Thani. “This is a
confirmation of the political and economic
stability enjoyed by the State of Qatar on
both regional and international levels.”
Sheikh Khalifa added that the 2013
Congress will enhance networking and
cooperation between members of the
business community in Qatar and the rest
of the world.
“Hosting large-scale events such as this
brings global activity to Qatar and enhances
Qatar’s image in the world,” said Remy
Rowhani, CEO of the Doha 2013 Bid
Committee. According to Rowhani, Doha
is an ideal choice for the Congress because
it serves as the modern capital of a rapidly
QCCI Chairman H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin
Jassim bin Mohammad Al-Thani
The Chamber’s 17-member Board of Directors
represents such sectors as trading,
contracting, manufacturing, services, banking
and investment, tourism, agriculture, insurance,
and arbitration.
g r o w i n g
country.
“Qatar
represents
t h e n e w
gateway for
businesses of the world, as well as for the
rapidly growing Middle East and African
markets,” Rowhani emphasized. “The
Middle East is the center of a new
prosperity that offers immense opportunities
to businesses worldwide. The
Congress will demonstrate the great
promise of both the Middle East and
Qatar to provide ‘Opportunities for All’,”
theme of the 2013 conference.
The World Chambers Congress (WCC),
organized by the World Chambers Federation
(through the International Chamber
of Commerce), serves some of the world’s
top business leaders and offers a platform
for dialogue among chambers of commerce
globally. Previous WCC sessions have been
held in Mexico City (2011), Kuala Lumpur
(2009), and Istanbul (2007).
US-Arab Tradeline • Spring 2011 51