WASHINGTON — The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC) hosted an evening reception on the sidelines of the SelectUSA Investment Summit on May 3, 2023, at USQBC’s head office in Washington, D.C. The event brought together senior government and private sector officials from the United States and Qatar, USQBC members, and the wider business community to discuss investment and trade opportunities and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.
The event featured the following speakers:
"Qatar’s delegation to the SelectUSA Investment Summit demonstrates the commitment the country has to increasing its investment in the United States," said Saleh Al-Khulaifi, Deputy Undersecretary for Industry and Business Development, Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the State of Qatar. "Sectors such as artificial intelligence, infrastructure, energy, technology, and hospitality in the US are very dynamic, among others, and are some of the high priority areas for targeted for Qatari-led investment.”
"The two-way trade and investment relationship between Qatar and the United States is a critical component of the partnership between our two countries,” said Camille Richardson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Global Markets, U.S. Department of Commerce. “Qatar is already an important investor and the United States and the U.S. Department of Commerce is committed to further expanding these investment inflows.”
“Qatar’s private sector and sovereign wealth fund already invest in the United States, taking advantage of the robust opportunities in the world’s largest market for goods and services,” said Natalie Baker, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Qatar. “These investment ties are expanding in size, and into new states and territories, thanks to the mutual economic benefits and the close relationship between of our countries. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar looks forward to facilitating continued collaboration.”
“Qatar’s investment in the United States improves the American economy and creates jobs for American families,” said Scott Taylor, President of US-Qatar Business Council. “USQBC foresees even greater investment in the US from Qatar’s public and private sectors and we look forward to working with entities on both sides to facilitate these commercial partnerships.”
“Qatar is an increasingly large investor in the United States across a variety of sectors including real estate, hospitality, sports, and technology,” said Mohammed Barakat, Managing Director and Treasurer of the Board of Directors of USQBC. “As the two nations partnership continues to grow and expand, we look forward to even greater commercial partnerships and investments.”
The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the premier event for promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States. The summit provides an opportunity for international investors to learn about the U.S. business environment, connect with economic development organizations from across the country, and explore investment opportunities in various sectors.
In 2020, the Qatar Investment Authority pledged to invest $45 billion in the United States over the coming years, with key investments already having been made across multiple sectors including oil and gas, financial technology, real estate, food production, hospitality, among others. Some notable investments by QIA in the United States include EatJust, Inc. which secured $200 million in funding, Califia Farms which received a $225 million Series D financing, and So-Fi which closed over $500 million in equity financing.