His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attended the reception held by the embassy of Qatar in the US on the occasion of the Emir's visit to Miami.The reception was attended by a number of current and former congressmen, the mayor of Miami, former mayor of New York City, and a number of businessmen, politicians, intellectuals, academics and the American media.His Highness the Emir exchanged with the participants views on ways to enhance opportunities for cooperation between Qatar and the United States, especially in Miami in various fields, including economy, trade and investment.They also exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest.
The reception was attended by members of the official delegation accompanying the Emir along with a number of businessmen. A top-level Qatari business delegation led by the Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani is currently touring the US and has successfully held roadshows and exhibitions in Miami, Florida as part of the economic tour. The ‘Economic Promotional Tour’ will visit several American cities to further develop partnerships between the two countries in the fields of industry, food, tourism, and other sectors.Speaking at a roundtable discussion in Miami, Florida, Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani noted that the ‘Economic Promotional Tour’ provided an opportunity for Qatari businessmen to explore investment opportunities in the US market.The QBA official emphasised that the roadshow also provided members of the Qatari delegation a platform to discuss opportunities for joint cooperation with their US counterparts.According to Sheikh Faisal, Qatar has many major industrial opportunities that could benefit from US expertise. “We are aware of the investment opportunities in the US and QBA is ready to look into ways to contribute to investment projects with their American counterparts. We also invite you to visit Qatar to find out more about these investments,” said Sheikh Faisal, who noted that QBA is ready to collaborate with the US in exploring the Qatari market.Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau president and CEO William Talbert lauded the Qatari business delegation for selecting Miami, which he noted “is one of the best investment destinations in the US.”“Miami looks forward to collaborating with Doha, which hosts the 2022 World Cup, and will gain more experience, especially as Miami also looks forward to hosting the 2026 World Cup,” Talbert said.Citing existing Qatari investments in Miami such as the St Regis Hotel and W Hotel, Talbert said investment opportunities for Qatari businessmen in Miami “are also significant.”“Miami's business community is looking forward to further partnerships with their Qatari counterparts in the development of Miami's existing infrastructure, as well as US investments in Doha,” Talbert said.He said the US business and investment communities can contribute to projects that support Qatar’s economic diversification plans to achieve a knowledge-based economy, away from oil and gas to enhance the role of service sectors.The meeting also included several presentations about potential investment projects in Miami.The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has begun a two-day roadshow at Bayfront Park in Miami, Florida, to educate and excite locals, football fans and regional media about Qatar’s plans for the tournament.The SC booth consists of six scale models of Qatar’s eye-catching proposed 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums and interactive video panels explaining the inspiration and design of each venue. Over 500 fans and media attended on the first day alone, asking questions of the SC representatives present to learn more about the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and expressing amazement at the plans.In addition to the SC booth, cultural organisations and businesses from across Qatar set up stalls around the park to provide a broader insight into everything Qatar has to offer residents and visitors. Qatar Airways, Qatar Foundation, the Qatar Investment Authority, Doha Film Institute and even a replica Souq Waqif all offered various forms of entertainment to attendees.