FW: Business and Investment in Qatar Forum (NY)

From: Tofol Al-Nasr [mailto:Talnasr@qatarembassy.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 1:54 PM
To: 'haytham@puckettfaraj.com'
Subject: Business and Investment in Qatar Forum (NY)

Good afternoon Mr. Faraj,

I am writing to you at the request of Mr. Ahmed Yousef Al-Rumaihi, Economic and Political Counselor at the Embassy of the State of Qatar, to convey an invitation from the Ambassador.

HE Ali Bin Fahad Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar, is honored to invite you to the Business and Investment in Qatar Forum to be held in New York City from April 6th-7th, 2011. The Forum will be inaugurated by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and includes a panel of key business leaders from the State of Qatar and United States. Enclosed, please find an invitation and tentative agenda.

Business and Investment in Qatar Forum:

The Forum aims to highlight the vast opportunities in the State of Qatar's inviting business climate. Aligned with the ambitious strategic development ambitions outlined in Qatar’s National Vision (QNV) 2030, the Forum's sessions are interdisciplinary, as follows:

Investing in the Future
Energy and Industry
Finance and Banking
Media and Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Infrastructure and Real Estate
Healthcare and Education
Culture, Tourism and Sports

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Sponsorship packages are available (but not required), and we would be happy to put interested companies in direct contact with the appropriate authority.

Background Information:

Situated in the heart of the Arabian Gulf, the State of Qatar is at strategically located meeting point between east and west. Geographically, the State of Qatar is about the size of the state of Connecticut. However, its immense natural gas reserves – 3^rd largest in the world – have fueled the country’s development and put it on the world map

Economically, the State of Qatar’s economy is predicted to be the second fastest growing in the world over 2011, a title the country has grasped for several years consecutively. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and CIA World Factbook both rank the State of Qatar as home to the highest GDP per capita on the globe. Over the upcoming years, the State of Qatar plans to spend about $100 billion on various infrastructure and development projects.

Financially, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s affirm that the State of Qatar has one of the highest sovereign credit ratings in the region, making it a safe haven for investors following the global financial crisis. International investors continue to take refuge in Qatar’s financial market, encouraged by Transparency International’s latest ranking of the country as the least corrupt not only in the Arabian Gulf region but in the Arab world, surpassing rankings of the United Kingdom and the USA.

Looking forward, the State of Qatar's economy is expected to continue its upward trend. In 2011, overall real Gross Domestic Product is projected to grow by 18.6%, which is amongst the highest in the world, mainly driven by vast expansion in natural gas production and public investment expenditures.

For your reference, more information on the Forum may be found here. You can also read more about QNV 2030 here.

Your early RSVP is greatly appreciated: RSVP@qatarembassy.net

To confirm your attendance, you are also kindly requested to register via the following form.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Tofol Al-Nasr

Embassy of the State of Qatar

(202) 274-1624

talnasr@qatarembassy.net