Members of AmCham Qatar and members of the US Department of Transportation, including Assistant Secretary Susan Kurland (second from left) and Secretary Ray LaHood, fifth from left
A delegation  from the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (AmCham Qatar) has told US policymakers that Qatar is an attractive destination for business and knowledge development.  
The team  from Qatar was in Washington DC recently on a business outreach mission.
According to a communiqué, the delegation discussed among other issues the opportunities and conditions for US companies in Qatar and US commercial relations with Qatar and its governmental departments. The delegation also met the members of Congress, US organisations and visited the embassy of  Qatar in Washington DC.
The delegation comprised members of AmCham Qatar’s Executive Committee, including chairman Robert Hager, managing partner of Patton Boggs LLP Doha Office, vice-chairman Carl Atallah, president, Chevron-Qatar, Secretary Izzat Dajani, CEO & Chairman of Citibank Qatar and Executive Director Keri Stooksbury.
The team was also joined by representatives from member-companies based in Washington DC, including David Traynham, director of Transportation Policy at The Boeing Company and Amol Dani, special adviser, Strategic Business Development and Operations at Georgetown University.
The AmCham Qatar delegation met several governmental departments, the most important being the meeting with the secretary of the US  Department of Transportation  Ray LaHood and assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs Susan L Kurland.
At the meeting, the delegation reviewed Qatar’s many infrastructure projects that AmCham Qatar members such as AECOM, KBR, Parsons International and Overseas Bechtel, Inc. are involved in, including the New Doha International Airport, New Doha Port, Lusail Light Rail, Ashghal road districts updates and road safety programmes. 
Opportunities for American firms in future infrastructure projects were also discussed, with a focus on the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 
The delegation also met Michael C Camuñez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance with the US department of commerce /International Trade Administration and collaborated on ideas for US business expertise in Qatar with an emphasis on the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Meetings were also held with the US Chamber of Commerce, the State Department’s Bureau of Public Affairs, the Middle East Partnership Initiative and the US Department of Energy.
AmCham Qatar representatives also met select members of Congress, many of whom have visited Qatar, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Congresswomen Kay Granger (R-TX) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Congressmen Mike Kelly (R-TN), Todd Young (R-IN), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Mike Conaway (R-TX).
Representatives also met House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Congressmen Dave Camp (R-MI), Kevin Brady (R-TX), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Mike Kelly (R-TN) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) as well as staff from the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and US House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The delegation held meetings with US organisations such as the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, the National Council on US-Arab Relations, the Arab American Institute and the US-Qatar Business Council. 
Members were welcomed at the Qatari embassy in Washington DC in a special meeting with Ahmed bin Youssef al-Rumaihi, Chargé d’Affaires.
According to US International Trade Data from the US Census Bureau, commercial ties between the US and Qatar have grown exponentially in the last five years with trade volumes growing by 162% from $1.5bn in 2006 to $4bn in 2011.
Over the same period, US exports increased 119% to $2.8bn, making the US the largest import partner for Qatar.
AmCham Qatar member American-based ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and natural gas company, is the largest US foreign investor in Qatar and has invested $18bn to date in the development of Qatar’s energy resources.
 Chairman Robert Hager said: “Increasing US trade with Qatar is important for AmCham Qatar as it benefits the US economy and creates jobs”.
While in Washington, the delegation encouraged American policymakers to visit Qatar’s key business decision makers to explore trade opportunities.  “We were energised by the reception we received and encouraged for future opportunities for US businesses in Qatar,” said a forum member.