QBA holds meeting with Oman's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Undersecretary

The Qatari Businessmen Association held a meeting with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion in the Sultanate of Oman, Assila bint Salem bin Suleiman al-Samsamiah, in the presence of Najeeb bin Yahya al-Balushi, Oman’s ambassador to Qatar, as well as the participation of the Qatari Businesswomen Association. The meeting discussed mutual ways of co-operation and opportunities for investment in both Oman and Qatar.From the Qatari Businessmen Association, the meeting was attended by HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, QBA chairman; Hussein Alfardan, first deputy to the chairman; Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani, QBA second deputy and Sherida al-Kaabi QBA board member.QBA members Sheikh Faisal bin Fahd al-Thani, Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal al-Thani, Maqbool Khalfan, Ihsan al-Khaimi, and Mohamed Althaf, and Sarah Abdullah, QBA deputy general manager, also attended.The Qatari Businesswomen Association was represented by its chairperson Aisha Alfardan, along with QBWA board members Awatef al-Dafaa, Mashael al-Ansari, Amal al-Athem as well as Jiskala Khalili, QBWA executive director.Sheikh Faisal opened the meeting by welcoming Assila bint Salem bin Suleiman al-Samsamiah and expressing his and the Qatari businessmen's interest in the Omani market, given the brotherly relations as well as the great potential the market offers. The QBA chairman also spoke of the pioneering role women are taking in the Arab, and particularly the Gulf countries, which reveal the recognition and strong belief of the leadership in the importance of women’s role in developing economies and societies.Assila bint Salem bin Suleiman al-Samsamiya thanked QBA for organising this meeting, pointing out that her visit aims at enhancing ways of co-operation and introducing the promising economic opportunities in the Sultanate to the Qatari private sector, where she spoke about the national vision 2040 and the vital sectors that the country is working to develop, especially with the presence of natural resources that the Sultanate aspires to benefit from.Hussain Alfardan expressed his happiness with the meeting, stressing the keenness of Qatar to develop economic relations with Oman. He also expressed interest in the tourism sector where the nature of the Sultanate is characterised by various elements that attract tourists, which makes it an ideal place for tourism and real estate investments.Sheikh Khalid bin Thani al-Thani praised the brotherly relations between the two countries, describing Oman as the second home for Qataris. Aisha Alfardan expressed her happiness for the participation of QBWA in this meeting, highlighting the need to strengthen the bonds of friendship between women in the two countries, where women play a key role in all political, economic and social fields, and are responsible side by side with the man for the development of society and the achievement of sustainable development.She noted the eagerness of the Qatari Businesswomen Association to co-operate directly with the Omani Ministry of Commerce to study potential co-operation opportunities.Assila spoke about the Sultanate of Oman's efforts to create an investment climate that attracts foreign investors, and to launch several investment projects in various sectors, coinciding with the development of infrastructure, the establishment of new industrial zones, and the development of ports. She also talked about the financial sector and the National Export Development Programme as important opportunities for joint cooperation with Qatari businessmen interested in the financial sector.