Latest news with #AliAlwaleedAlThani


Qatar Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Invest Qatar, Schneider in deal to boost infrastructure in Qatar
Tribune News Network Doha Invest Qatar, the investment promotion agency of Qatar, has entered into a strategic partnership with Schneider Electric, a global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation. The collaboration aims to support the company's expansion in Qatar and accelerate the development of smart infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions within the country's rapidly growing business ecosystem. Signed during the Qatar Economic Forum, the agreement outlines a collaborative framework to advance Schneider Electric's operations in the country. This includes contributing to the development and expansion of Qatar's AI innovation and smart infrastructure landscape, while nurturing a future-ready workforce. As part of its expansion, Schneider Electric plans to grow its local team, contributing to job creation and talent development in the country. The company will also collaborate with Invest Qatar on a range of learning and development initiatives aligned with Qatar's Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). These efforts will be supported by Schneider Electric's Services Training Centre, located in its newly inaugurated office in Msheireb, Qatar's most sustainable and digitally enabled district. Schneider Electric will offer comprehensive upskilling programmes for Qatari talent and tailored training for customers on automation and smart city technologies. By integrating global technological expertise with local market insights, the partnership aims to further boost Qatar's transition toward a technology-driven economy. Invest Qatar will provide Schneider Electric with tailored support services, facilitate access to key stakeholders and promote initiatives that drive AI adoption, smart infrastructure development across strategic sectors. The partnership will also help raise awareness of Schneider Electric's strategic contributions to Qatar's innovation and sustainability agenda. Commenting on the partnership, Invest Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani said, 'We are pleased to partner with Schneider Electric and support its successful business growth journey in Qatar. The company's decision to deepen its presence underscores Qatar's position as an ideal hub for tech innovation and sustainable development. Together, we look forward to driving progress across key sectors and supporting Qatar's transition to a knowledge-based economy.' Schneider Electric Country Manager for Qatar & Kuwait Louie Jarouche said, 'We are proud to strengthen our presence in Qatar, a country whose bold vision for sustainable development and digital transformation mirrors our own. Through our partnership with Invest Qatar, we are harnessing our global expertise in digitalization and electrification solutions to help accelerate the country's smart infrastructure and AI ambitions. This collaboration reinforces our shared commitment to advancing a future-ready, low-carbon economy by empowering local talent and enabling innovation across key sectors in line with Qatar's Third National Development Strategy.' Qatar is strategically leveraging its world-class infrastructure, progressive regulatory environment and strong industry-academic partnerships to emerge as a leading tech and investment hub in the region. The country's National Development Strategy and Digital Agenda 2030 reflect a strategic focus on fostering innovation and integrating advanced technologies across various sectors. By prioritising research and development in emerging technologies, Qatar aims to boost its global digital competitiveness and position itself as a hub for innovation and technological advancement in the Middle East.


Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar records over $2.7bn in FDI in 2024, creating over 9,000 jobs
Tribune News Network Doha The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) released its 2024 Annual Report on Sunday, showcasing a strong year of investment growth, global engagement and continued momentum in positioning Qatar as a leading global business hub. Highlighting a year of robust economic growth, strategic policy reforms and enhanced investor confidence, Qatar attracted $2.74 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024 through 241 projects, which created 9,348 jobs. These results reflect Qatar's accelerated momentum in transforming its economy in line with the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), with 95 percent of total FDI capex directed toward greenfield projects, affirming the country's commitment to diversification. Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Advisory Council HE Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani said, 'Guided by the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), Qatar is paving the way for a sustainable, innovative and secure future. The results in this year's report reaffirm our efforts to attract high-quality investments, strengthen economic resilience and enable private sector growth. Qatar remains committed to building a diversified, knowledge-based economy that offers exceptional opportunities to both Qataris and the global community.' Invest Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani said, '2024 has been another successful year for Invest Qatar, marked by significant milestones that reinforce our commitment to positioning Qatar as a premier global business hub. Through over 1,200 investor and stakeholder meetings, 120 fact-finding trips, the successful attraction of more than 30 companies, and the introduction of innovative digital tools like we have made strides in fostering investment, innovation and sustainable growth. As we present this annual report, we celebrate these achievements and look forward to building on this foundation to drive further economic opportunities and advancements in the years ahead.' Key investment activity spanned a range of priority sectors, including electric power generation, which accounted for the largest share of capital expenditure at 40.1 percent($ 1.1 billion), followed by retail and wholesale trade, data processing and hosting, and scientific research and development. This growth was driven by Qatar's continued efforts to improve the business environment, launch new digital services and streamline licensing procedures across multiple sectors. The year also saw a rise in Qatar's international competitiveness, with the country climbing to 11th in the IMD World Competitiveness Index 2024, improving to 28th in the Global Economic Freedom Index and advancing to 24th in the DHL Connectedness Index. Notable improvements were also seen in logistics and infrastructure, with Qatar ranking 14th in the Logistics Competence sub-index and 19th in the Logistics Infrastructure sub-index of the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index. In a strategic move to enhance the transparency and efficiency of foreign direct investment (FDI) monitoring, Invest Qatar has launched the FDI Projects Monitor in collaboration with fDi Markets. The monitor tracks FDI projects that have been publicly announced since 2017, presenting over 1,000 FDI projects, that have generated over 73,000 jobs and more than $50 billion in capital expenditure. This innovative tool is designed to provide accrate, real-time FDI data, essential for informed decision-making and fostering economic growth. The monitor also provides an interactive investment map that tracks the locations of FDI projects, providing key insights about the involved companies, job creation statistics and capital expenditure figures, along with sector and source country breakdowns. Additional resources include updates on business environment developments and access to the latest FDI reports with an option to generate custom reports.


Qatar Tribune
12-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Invest Qatar, HKTDC sign MoU to boost bilateral trade, investment
Tribune News Network Doha In a significant step toward fostering deeper economic cooperation between Qatar and Hong Kong, the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and business engagement. The MoU was signed during the official visit of a high-powered business delegation comprising more than 50 senior executives and business leaders from Hong Kong and mainland China. The delegation, led by John KC Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was organised by HKTDC as part of its ongoing efforts to explore new growth avenues in the Gulf region and beyond. The signing ceremony, held in Doha, marked a milestone in the economic relationship between the two regions and established a comprehensive framework for long-term cooperation in key sectors. Under the agreement, both Invest Qatar and HKTDC will collaborate to organize and participate in joint initiatives such as trade fairs, investment forums, business conferences, and networking events that facilitate meaningful engagement between stakeholders. The MoU is designed to create new pathways for businesses and entrepreneurs from both sides to explore opportunities in each other's markets. It places a strong emphasis on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and supporting enterprises in navigating regulatory frameworks and business environments. Invest Qatar Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani described the agreement as a timely and strategic alignment of two dynamic economies. 'This partnership marks an important step in strengthening economic and trade relations between Qatar and Hong Kong. By combining our efforts, we aim to create a more conducive environment for investment and foster collaboration that drives sustainable growth in both regions,' he said. HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong expressed optimism about the long-term benefits of the collaboration. 'We are excited to partner with Invest Qatar and explore new opportunities that benefit businesses and investors in both Hong Kong and Qatar. This MOU will enable us to better serve our stakeholders and further promote Hong Kong as a gateway for Qatari businesses looking to expand into mainland China and the wider Asia region,' she stated. The agreement aligns with Qatar's broader strategic vision of diversifying its economy and strengthening its position as a global hub for investment and innovation. For Hong Kong, the MoU reinforces its role as a leading international business center and a strategic entry point for Gulf enterprises seeking to access Asian markets.


Zawya
14-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Invest Qatar partners with ProColombia to expand its network in Middle East, opening first GCC office in Doha
DOHA: Invest Qatar and ProColombia, the national agency responsible for promoting tourism and foreign investment in Colombia, have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen economic ties and foster bilateral trade and investment relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Colombia. As part of this collaboration, ProColombia will establish its first office in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, located in Doha, positioning Qatar as a key gateway for Colombian businesses to access new opportunities across the region. Signed during the Colombian President HE Gustavo Petro's visit to Doha, this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) facilitates information exchange on investment opportunities between the two countries. It also sets the framework for cooperation, including joint advisory services, training programmes, investor missions and participation in events and exhibitions. Under this agreement, Invest Qatar will support ProColombia to expand its global network into the Middle East by facilitating the establishment of its first office in the GCC region. Located in the Invest Qatar Headquarters in Doha, this office will serve as a business hub, connecting Colombian businesses with Qatari counterparts and potential partners across the region, enabling them to access investment opportunities and further expand their business. The agreement was signed by CEO of Invest Qatar Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani and President of ProColombia Carmen Caballero Villa. Commenting on the new partnership, Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani said: "We are pleased to partner with ProColombia on this significant milestone. This agreement is testament to our shared vision of fostering a conducive environment for investment and business growth. By deepening ProColombia's presence in Qatar and creating avenues for collaboration, we are unlocking new business opportunities that will generate mutual benefits. We look forward to working together to further strengthen economic ties between our two countries." Commenting on the new partnership, Carmen Caballero Villa said: "ProColombia is proud to count on Invest Qatar as a strategic partner for the promotion of 'Colombia, the country of beauty' and to increase the presence of our non-mining goods exports, to attract more foreign investment to our country and to show how spectacular tourism is in Colombia. This MoU represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen cooperation, consolidate key alliances and identify new opportunities for growth and access for both countries." This partnership aligns with Qatar's broader strategy to position itself as a global investment hub, as outlined in the Qatar National Vision 2030. It also underlines the growing economic ties between Qatar and Colombia, particularly as 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Over the years, Qatar and Colombia have enhanced cooperation across key sectors, including tourism, air services, ports and sports among others. To further strengthen trade and investment ties, both countries have also agreed to establish a dialogue between Colombia's National Tax and Customs Authority (DIAN) and its Qatari counterpart to enhance cooperation in taxation and customs matters. © Copyright Qatar Tribune. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (