The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC), in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners, District Export Council, and World Trade Center Seattle, has organised a business visit to Seattle, Washington to engage with key policy makers and the local business community to expand and enhance economic partnerships between the State of Qatar and the State of Washington.
The business visit featured the following representatives: Mansoor al-Sulaitin, Consul General of Qatar; Fahad al-Dosari, Qatar Commercial Attaché to the US, and Mohamed Barakat, USQBC managing director and treasurer of the board of directors; Josh Davis, vice president Global Trade and Investment, Greater Seattle Partners, and David Woodward, chair, Washington District Export Council.
During the ‘Business Seminar & Breakfast’ hosted by USQBC at the World Trade Center Seattle, participants were able to network, learn, and explore business opportunities between Washington and Qatar.
This was followed by a business lunch hosted by Greater Seattle Partners, which was attended by key representatives of Washington State’s business and policy communities.
Al-Sulaitin said, “Washington State is one of the country’s leading life sciences, agriculture and food, and ICT hubs. Similarly, the State also represents one of the country’s most forward-thinking regions for sustainability and environmental stewardship in its ‘cleantech’ industries, which are some of the most important areas for Qatar to expand upon and seek further investment opportunities in.”
Davis said, “Following our recent engagement in the Middle East in November, and Qatar’s historic deal with Boeing, this visit reaffirms our shared commitment with Qatar as a strategic partner for investment and trade. We are excited about the growth of our relationship.”
Woodward said, “The relationship between the people of Qatar and the people of Seattle and the State of Washington has been growing over many decades, led by leaders of Qatar coming to our region for their higher educational studies. Today, our two regions are moving into a dynamic new phase in our bi-regional relationship facilitated by the new Qatar Airlines direct flight between Doha and Seattle. We’re seeing a growing alignment in strategic priorities around environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and cultural enrichment.”
Al-Dosari said, "The State of Qatar is committed to expanding the economic partnership with Washington State by promoting Qatar's commercial environment across a diverse range of industries, including ICT, agriculture and food, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. This visit demonstrates the commitment Qatar has to attracting US companies to consider Qatar as a hub for expansion into regional markets while benefiting from Qatar's robust investment incentives.”
Barakat said, “Qatar has been a key historical economic partner for Washington State through the longstanding relationship between Boeing and Qatar Airways. We see many opportunities for enhanced business partnerships and export opportunities for Washington State’s vibrant ICT, aerospace, and life sciences industries.”
The participants were also given a tour of Port of Seattle and learned the incredible role Washington’s ports play in the state’s economic development. Participants also remarked upon the importance of Qatar Airways' recent establishment of a direct route between Seattle and Doha in 2021.
On March 25, al-Sulaitin and al-Dosari visited Boeing’s manufacturing facilities where they met with key representatives of the Boeing team, and the participants discussed the importance of the Qatar Airways-Boeing partnership.
The deal between Qatar Airways and Boeing signed on the sidelines of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's visit to Washington, DC, in January 2021 was a major milestone for commercial relations between the US and Qatar.
Qatar Airways will be the 777-8 Freighter launch customer with a firm order for 34 jets and options for 16 more, a total purchase that would be more than $20bn at current list prices and the largest freighter commitment in Boeing history by value.
The order, which supports hundreds of US suppliers from across 38 states, will sustain more than 35,000 US jobs and provide the American economy with an annual estimated economic impact of $2.6bn during the contract’s delivery period. This purchase will also serve as a key boost to Qatar’s strategic development goal of being the leading transportation and logistics hub for the Middle East region.
The business visit concluded with a visit to Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena where participants toured the facility and discussed the importance of sustainability as a driving economic force. The participants discussed the commonalities between Climate Pledge Arena and the stadiums built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the world’s first carbon-neutral World Cup.
During the ‘Business Seminar & Breakfast’ hosted by USQBC at the World Trade Center Seattle, participants were able to network, learn, and explore business opportunities between Washington and Qatar.
This was followed by a business lunch hosted by Greater Seattle Partners, which was attended by key representatives of Washington State’s business and policy communities.
Al-Sulaitin said, “Washington State is one of the country’s leading life sciences, agriculture and food, and ICT hubs. Similarly, the State also represents one of the country’s most forward-thinking regions for sustainability and environmental stewardship in its ‘cleantech’ industries, which are some of the most important areas for Qatar to expand upon and seek further investment opportunities in.”
Davis said, “Following our recent engagement in the Middle East in November, and Qatar’s historic deal with Boeing, this visit reaffirms our shared commitment with Qatar as a strategic partner for investment and trade. We are excited about the growth of our relationship.”
Woodward said, “The relationship between the people of Qatar and the people of Seattle and the State of Washington has been growing over many decades, led by leaders of Qatar coming to our region for their higher educational studies. Today, our two regions are moving into a dynamic new phase in our bi-regional relationship facilitated by the new Qatar Airlines direct flight between Doha and Seattle. We’re seeing a growing alignment in strategic priorities around environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and cultural enrichment.”
Al-Dosari said, "The State of Qatar is committed to expanding the economic partnership with Washington State by promoting Qatar's commercial environment across a diverse range of industries, including ICT, agriculture and food, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. This visit demonstrates the commitment Qatar has to attracting US companies to consider Qatar as a hub for expansion into regional markets while benefiting from Qatar's robust investment incentives.”
Barakat said, “Qatar has been a key historical economic partner for Washington State through the longstanding relationship between Boeing and Qatar Airways. We see many opportunities for enhanced business partnerships and export opportunities for Washington State’s vibrant ICT, aerospace, and life sciences industries.”
The participants were also given a tour of Port of Seattle and learned the incredible role Washington’s ports play in the state’s economic development. Participants also remarked upon the importance of Qatar Airways' recent establishment of a direct route between Seattle and Doha in 2021.
On March 25, al-Sulaitin and al-Dosari visited Boeing’s manufacturing facilities where they met with key representatives of the Boeing team, and the participants discussed the importance of the Qatar Airways-Boeing partnership.
The deal between Qatar Airways and Boeing signed on the sidelines of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's visit to Washington, DC, in January 2021 was a major milestone for commercial relations between the US and Qatar.
Qatar Airways will be the 777-8 Freighter launch customer with a firm order for 34 jets and options for 16 more, a total purchase that would be more than $20bn at current list prices and the largest freighter commitment in Boeing history by value.
The order, which supports hundreds of US suppliers from across 38 states, will sustain more than 35,000 US jobs and provide the American economy with an annual estimated economic impact of $2.6bn during the contract’s delivery period. This purchase will also serve as a key boost to Qatar’s strategic development goal of being the leading transportation and logistics hub for the Middle East region.
The business visit concluded with a visit to Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena where participants toured the facility and discussed the importance of sustainability as a driving economic force. The participants discussed the commonalities between Climate Pledge Arena and the stadiums built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the world’s first carbon-neutral World Cup.
