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Tribune news network
doha
Senior representatives from Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority, Manateq and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy successfully concluded panel discussions, face-to-face consultation and networking events with over 120 professionals from Japanese banks and corporations in Tokyo recently, as part of the QFC Asia Roadshow 2016.
Speaking at the roadshow, QFC Authority's Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer, Kamal Naji, said,"The relationship between Qatar and Japan continues to grow year-on- year; in 2015, bilateral trade between the two states reached QR17 billion. This highlights the close ties between Qatar and Japan.
"The relationship between Qatar and Japan has traditionally been focused on oil & gas, but there are over 45 Japanese companies operating in Qatar and around 1000 Japanese people living and working in Qatar in a wide variety of sectors. Some of our valued Japanese partners are here with us today such as Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Fujifilm.
"This roadshow aims to explain more about Qatar and about how the QFC can be an attractive platform for Japanese companies to expand to Qatar and the Middle East."
Japanese businesses attending the high level event had the opportunity to discuss the outlook for investment in Qatar and the Middle East, and explore how the QFC supports companies to expand to the Middle East. As Japanese corporates and other business enterprises look to reach new markets and propel their regional and international growth, the QFC offers ease of set up and the benefit of 100 percentownership, plus enabling businesses to be fully onshore and deal in any currency whilst being geographically centrally placed between East and West.
Manateq's Chief Planning & Business Development Officer, Mohammed al Malki said,"Qatar represents a value proposition for international businesses and investors. Fast emerging as an economic hub in the region, the state has established itself as a reliable and secure destination for those looking at the Middle East.
"Following our meetings and presentation on Qatar's new Special Economic Zones, we received significant enquiries from our Japanese partners, in addition to interest in the business solutions we provide, offering a positive outlook on the continued relationship between Qatar and Japan's business communities."
Commenting on the Roadshow, Ali al Neama, senior engineer at the Technical Delivery Office, SC, the entity in charge of delivering the infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, said,"Qatar and Japan have had a long distinguished history of strong economic, social and educational relations, therefore we are grateful to have had an opportunity to share our plans and take part in this panel in Japan, which hosted the World Cup in 2002 and will host the 2020 Olympics, two years prior to Qatar hosting the World Cup. As promised in 2010 when we won the bid, the tournament we are delivering will be for Qatar, the region and for Asia, and we hope to further cooperation in the future."
Speaking at the roadshow, HE Yousef Mohamed Bilal ,ambassador of Qatar to Japan said,"This initiative comes as part of efforts to diversify the Qatari economy and transform the country into a leading commercial and financial hub, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. We hope that this initiative will provide the opportunity for the Japanese investors to discuss investment prospects in the country, and get acquainted with the support provided by the QFC to the firms to expand globally, and eventually lead to promote the Japanese trade and investment presence in Qatar."
