USQBC Organizes Business Visit to Boston

Boston, Massachusetts – The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC) organized a business visit to Boston, Massachusetts from November 14th-15th to engage with key policymakers and the local business community to expand and enhance economic partnerships between the State of Qatar the State of Massachusetts.

The business visit featured the following officials:

●      Mohammed bin Sultan Al-Kuwari, Consul General of State of Qatar in New York

●      Fahad Al Dosari, The State of Qatar Commercial Attaché to the United States

●      Mohammed Barakat, Managing Director and Treasurer of Board of Directors, US-Qatar Business Council

During the Business Luncheon hosted at the Harvard Club of Boston in partnership with Women in World Trade, New England, participants were able to network, learn, and explore business opportunities between the State of Massachusetts and the State of Qatar.

“The State of Qatar looks forward to expanding investment & trade with the State of Massachusetts,” said Mohammed bin Sultan Al-Kuwari, Consul General of State of Qatar in New York. “Qatar has a well-rounded, diversified economy and we foresee many new partnerships with companies from Massachusetts after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and beyond.”

"The State of Qatar is committed to expanding the economic partnership with the State of Massachusetts by promoting Qatar's commercial environment across a diverse range of industries, including Information and Communication Technology, Agriculture and Food, Advanced Manufacturing, and Logistics,” said Fahad Al Dosari, The State of Qatar Commercial Attaché to the United States. “This visit demonstrates the commitment Qatar has to attract US companies to consider Qatar as a hub for expansion into regional markets while benefiting from Qatar's robust investment incentives."

"Qatar has been a key historical economic partner for the State of Massachusetts and has had a longstanding relationship with the state through various investments and partnerships,” said Mohammed Barakat, Managing Director and Treasurer of the Board of Directors, US-Qatar Business Council. “We see many opportunities for enhanced business partnerships and export opportunities for Massachusetts’ vibrant ICT, Aerospace, and Life Sciences industries."

Following the conclusion of the Business Luncheon, the group departed to meet Mayor Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston, to discuss opportunities for further trade and investment between the business communities of the city of Boston and the State of Qatar.

USQBC hosted an Exclusive Dinner at the Intercontinental Boston for local business community. During the Dinner, participants discussed ways to enhance and expand the business relationship between the State of Qatar and State of Massachusetts. This concluded the business visit.

Qatar and the State of Massachusetts already share a flourishing business relationship, with the total economic value between the two exceeding $18 billion. In 2019, exports from Massachusetts to Qatar amounted to $21.9 million, and imported $705,125 from Qatar the same year.

Raytheon Technologies, which is headquartered in Massachusetts has a longstanding business relationship with the State of Qatar. In 2014, Qatar signed an agreement with Raytheon to buy Apache attack helicopters and Patriot and Javelin air-defense systems for $11 billion. More recently, in 2020, Qatar awarded Raytheon approximately $2.2 billion for additional integrated air and missile defense capability.

In 2019, Alduwaliya, a Qatar-based investment firm, purchased 99 Chauncy Street and 101 Summer Street, two office buildings totaling 159,781 square feet in Boston’s Financial District with an average weighted lease term of 7.2 years.

In January 2022, General Electric, which is based in Boston, MA, and Qatar Airways announced an order for GE9X engines that are valued over $6.8 billion which includes 34 777-8 orders and an additional 16 purchase right options.