Maryland: The State of Qatar participated in the SelectUSA Investment Summit, hosted by the U.S. state of Maryland, with broad participation from senior officials, decision-makers, and business leaders from around the world. The Qatari delegation was led by HE Minister of State for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed. The official delegation also included senior representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Qatar Investment Authority, the Qatar Free Zones Authority, and the Qatar Financial Centre. The delegation took part in a number of panel discussions and bilateral meetings focused on exploring cooperation opportunities across various sectors.
According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar's participation underscores its commitment to expanding international economic partnerships and exploring new opportunities in global markets, especially in the United States, which is one of the world's leading investment destinations. HE the Minister toured the exhibition held along with the summit, visiting the pavilions of New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, North Carolina, Indiana, and California, as part of efforts to explore potential areas of cooperation between the State of Qatar and the US, particularly in investment attraction and knowledge exchange.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Qatar-US Business Council hosted a reception attended by prominent dignitaries, business leaders from Qatar and the US, and several senior American government officials. The event reaffirmed the deep strategic relationship between the two countries, grounded in mutual trust and a shared vision for sustainable development and economic prosperity.
As part of the summit activities, HE Dr. Al Sayed met with HE Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt and Julia Khersonsky, who serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce. During both meetings, the parties discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, and industry. HE the Minister highlighted the diverse investment platforms available to US investors in the State of Qatar, including the Free Zones Authority, the Qatar Financial Centre, Qatar Science and Technology Park, and the Media City, emphasizing that these platforms serve as strategic gateways to regional and global markets, thanks to their competitive advantages and advanced infrastructure.
He also emphasized the importance of expanding Qatar-US cooperation across several strategic and vital sectors, such as advanced technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, transport, tourism, and higher education. He reaffirmed Qatar's ambition to build sustainable partnerships that bring mutual economic benefit to both countries.
HE the Minister invited American and international investors participating in the summit to explore the promising opportunities offered by the Qatari economy and to seize the momentum of the event to enhance trade and investment partnerships and expand economic cooperation based on innovation and sustainability.
The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the premier investment event organized by the US government to attract foreign direct investment. It aims to promote the US as an ideal investment destination by providing a platform that connects international investors with state and local government representatives and US companies to explore available opportunities and facilitate the development of strategic business and investment relationships.