A webinar between the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and officials from Qatar and Spain Saturday highlighted the launch of the Qatari-Spanish Joint Business Council.
QBA chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani said the business council, which comprises “elite businessmen from Qatar and,” opens a new page in the history of economic relations between both countries.
QBA chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani
Sheikh Faisal said the council seeks to encourage bilateral trade and investments in various fields, whether in manufacturing or service sectors, and will work to provide a joint mechanism for cooperation.
He also thanked the Qatari embassy in Madrid and the QBA’s partners in Spain for organising the virtual meeting, “which aims at building bridges of co-operation and
benefiting from the experiences of all businessmen in both countries.”
During the meeting, it was announced that Sheikh Faisal and Confederation of Employers and Industries of Spain (CEOE) president Antonio Garamendi will be the council’s honorary presidents.
“In Qatar, we highly value our economic partners around the world and view Spain as a market full of economic opportunities in various sectors. In this context, we invite Spanish
investors to take advantage of the promising opportunities and the favourable environment provided by the Qatari economy, especially with the presence of the free zones.
“We wish to see more Spanish companies coming to the Qatari market; we will work together to develop our partnerships and discuss joint investment opportunities, whether in
Qatar, Spain, or any other destination around the world,” Sheikh Faisal said.
As the council’s co-presidents, QBA second deputy Sheikh Dr Khaled bin Thani al-Thani, who is also chairman and managing director of Qatar International Islamic Bank, will be
representing the Qatari side, while Ignacio Galan, president of Aberdrola Company will represent Spain.
The meeting was also highlighted by the signing of an MoU between Sheikh Faisal and Garamendi.
Sheikh Khalid said he hopes that the business council “would be a leap” towards more economic and commercial co-operation, and would contribute to enhancing mutual investments between Qatar and Spain, as well as to explore the investment opportunities available in the two countries.
Sheikh Khaled also said the MoU provides two main areas represented in expanding economic, technical, scientific co-operation, and exchange of information between the two countries, which creates a healthy business environment aimed at promoting the development of commercial and industrial activities in Qatar and Spain.
“The MoU also included a very important part concerning strengthening direct contact between entrepreneurs in both countries and organising regular meetings of the council and exchanging visits to present joint commercial projects, which promotes investment and supports economic development,” Sheikh Khaled said.
Galan, for his part, encouraged Spanish companies to study the opportunities present in the Qatar’s free zones and to benefit from the privileges provided by these facilities, which, he said, provide many opportunities for foreign companies.
The council included major Spanish companies, such as Iberdrola, Grupo Prisa, El Corte Ingles, Grupo Santander, Ferrovial, FCC, La Liga Group, Colonial, Copasa, Ecisa, and Aguas de Valencia, as well as Qatar Airways in Spain.
On the Qatari side, the council includes Al-Faisal Holding Company, Qatar International Islamic Bank, Al Mana Group, Blue Salon, Al Mannai Company, Arab Engineering Bureau, Al-Wataniya International Group, and LuLu International Group.
He also thanked the Qatari embassy in Madrid and the QBA’s partners in Spain for organising the virtual meeting, “which aims at building bridges of co-operation and
 QBA second deputy Sheikh Dr Khaled bin Thani al-Thani |
During the meeting, it was announced that Sheikh Faisal and Confederation of Employers and Industries of Spain (CEOE) president Antonio Garamendi will be the council’s honorary presidents.
“In Qatar, we highly value our economic partners around the world and view Spain as a market full of economic opportunities in various sectors. In this context, we invite Spanish
 Ambassador Salem al-Jaber, director of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
“We wish to see more Spanish companies coming to the Qatari market; we will work together to develop our partnerships and discuss joint investment opportunities, whether in
 QBA board member Saud al-Mana |
As the council’s co-presidents, QBA second deputy Sheikh Dr Khaled bin Thani al-Thani, who is also chairman and managing director of Qatar International Islamic Bank, will be
 Ignacio Galán, president of Aberdrola Company |
The meeting was also highlighted by the signing of an MoU between Sheikh Faisal and Garamendi.
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Sheikh Khaled also said the MoU provides two main areas represented in expanding economic, technical, scientific co-operation, and exchange of information between the two countries, which creates a healthy business environment aimed at promoting the development of commercial and industrial activities in Qatar and Spain.
“The MoU also included a very important part concerning strengthening direct contact between entrepreneurs in both countries and organising regular meetings of the council and exchanging visits to present joint commercial projects, which promotes investment and supports economic development,” Sheikh Khaled said.
Galan, for his part, encouraged Spanish companies to study the opportunities present in the Qatar’s free zones and to benefit from the privileges provided by these facilities, which, he said, provide many opportunities for foreign companies.
The council included major Spanish companies, such as Iberdrola, Grupo Prisa, El Corte Ingles, Grupo Santander, Ferrovial, FCC, La Liga Group, Colonial, Copasa, Ecisa, and Aguas de Valencia, as well as Qatar Airways in Spain.
On the Qatari side, the council includes Al-Faisal Holding Company, Qatar International Islamic Bank, Al Mana Group, Blue Salon, Al Mannai Company, Arab Engineering Bureau, Al-Wataniya International Group, and LuLu International Group.
