WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 2, 2019: The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC) hosted a networking lunch to welcome Mr. Fahad Al-Dosari, Qatar's newly appointed Commercial Attaché to the United States.
The reception welcomed over 60 members of the business community and was hosted at the recently opened Conrad Hotel near CityCenterDC. CityCenterDC was one of Qatar’s first major investments in the United States, totaling over $650 million, and reshaped the downtown DC neighborhood.
Ambassador Anne Patterson, USQBC's President, welcomed guests to the lunch and introduced Mr. Al-Dosari.
Mr. Al-Dosari is the first Commercial Attaché of the State of Qatar to the United States, and his posting is part of an initiative of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to place representatives overseas to further increase trade and investment. His appointment was made alongside appointments of Attachés to the UK and France.
Mr. Al-Dosari is well-versed in international trade, having served with Qatari delegations to the World Trade Organization. He also participated in the Gulf Cooperation Council's trade negotiations with China and represented Qatar in the joint committees to Singapore and the Scandinavian countries to review trade agreements. Mr. Al-Dosari was a major participant in handling the World Trade Organization's periodic reviews of Qatar's trade policy. He graduated from American University in Dubai with a degree in business management and assumed his duties in Washington in February.
"Minister Al-Kuwari has named one of his best to the US to ensure that the US-Qatar bilateral commercial relationship continues to prosper," said Ambassador Patterson, adding that "he has arrived in the US at a very promising time for US-Qatar business relations. We wish you and your family all professional and personal happiness here."
Mr. Al-Dosari thanked the US-Qatar Business Council for hosting him, expressing his eagerness to tackle the work ahead of him. "I appreciate such a warm welcome to Washington, and look forward to getting to know all of you in the coming months," said Mr. Al-Dosari, "though I have a lot of work before me, I am appreciative of my partners here in Washington, and confident we can make a positive impact on the US-Qatar trade relationship."
Mohammed Barakat, Managing Director of the US-Qatar Business Council, commented on the appointment of Mr. Al-Dosari saying, “Mr. Al-Dosari’s appointment is the first step in further deepening the US-Qatar trade relationship and shows the importance of the US to the Qatari economy. We look forward to working with Mr. Al-Dosari and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to further develop the trade relationship.”
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ABOUT THE COUNCIL
The US-Qatar Business Council is a non-profit, private sector organization which works to develop and sustain strong commercial, economic and trade relationships between the two countries and provides a forum for discussion of issues of interest to American companies doing or planning to do business in Qatar. The Council also offers business advisory services to further enhance the trade relationship.
US businesses exported $4.4 billion in goods to Qatar in 2018 and it is estimated that one million American jobs are supported through business partnerships with Qatar. In 2018, Qatar announced a $30-40 billion LNG expansion project, which American companies can bid on. This project will secure Qatar's place as the world's largest supplier of LNG for years to come. Qatar also announced a $1.8 billion expansion of Al-Udeid Airbase, where US Central Command hosts over 10,000 US troops.
ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is responsible for overseeing commercial and industrial activities for the State of Qatar, directing these activities in accordance with the requirements of national development. The Ministry’s mandate includes business development needed to attract investments, and support and develop exports. Other responsibilities are developing methods and procedures for providing public services to the business and investment sector, regulating the practice of trade professions, registering the commercial and investment establishments, issuing the necessary licenses to carry out their activities, and supervising the regulation and control of markets in its area of competence.
The Ministry is spearheading efforts to develop general policies to promote industrialization and national industries, developing and exploiting its existing industrial zones, and proposing the establishment of new zones.
The Office of the Commercial Attaché is currently within the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC.