Qatari Businessmen Association had the pleasure to host on Sunday 5/2/2006 the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Mr. Claws Schwab accompanied by a WEF delegation that included Mr. Sharif Al Diwani the Middle East Director & Mrs. Denise Burnet the Events Director.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasem Al-Thani, the Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) & the members Dr. Hamad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Kuwari, Mr. Sherida Saad Jubran Al Kaabi, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ahmad Al Tani, Mr. Khalid Al Rabban, Mr. Ibrahim Al Neama and Mr. Maqbool Habeeb Khalfan.

The General Manager of the Association, Mr. Bassam Massouh initiated the meeting by welcoming the delegation & introducing the members. He then commenced with explaining the Association’s main activities and stressed on QBA's contribution in distribution of the questionnaires and gathering the information related to the local sector in order to publish the latter in the annual report on world competitiveness, which estimates the country’s ability to attract foreign investments.

In his turn, Mr. Schwab expressed his appreciation of the strategic vision set by HH the Emir of Qatar and the

pioneer role QBA is playing to create promising business opportunities and to encourage foreign investments, thus opening the gates towards economic development. Moreover, he expressed WEF willingness to assist in establishing the Qatari regional council for competitiveness. In addition to assisting in making the required statistics and analysis to be able to release the Arab competitiveness report in Qatar.

Moreover, Mr. Schwab promised offering any assistance for the region to achieve a good standing in the world business market, praising Qatar’s position after gaining the first rank in the conference for issuing the Arab competitiveness report, hoping to acquire the same position this year too and improve Qatar's position in the world ranking. He also expressed his hope that the Qatari Counsel would be established by the time the second report is issued.

He wished that a group of Qatari delegation will participate in the upcoming World Economic Forum, which will be held in Sharm Al-Sheikh on, May 2006.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ahmad Al Tani suggested preparing for preliminary meetings between certain powerful economic areas like Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), countries of North Africa & others in preparation for an Annual forum to include all the above mentioned parties.

Mr. Schwab welcomed this suggestion, & highlighted 4 main focal points' needs to be tackled to start working on the preparation of the annual forum, which are:

1. The GCC Economic Forum

2. The annual competitiveness report

3. The Arabic Business Council

4. Establishing a community of international companies that are economically powerful in Qatar.

Mr. Sherif Al Diwani added another crucial point which is the energy conference.

In the end, Sheikh Faisal bin Qasem Al Tani confirmed that it is very important to do this kind of forum with what it holds from economic significance for the region, hoping that this forum will be held in Qatar, & stressed QBA's interest in cooperating with WEF in organizing this forum.

Afterwards, Dr. Hamad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Kuwari evoked the subject of the reaction of the world and especially the Islamic region concerning the caricature that abused the image of the prophet. Moreover, he requested that everybody should condemn this act, apologize & make a law to prevent extremist from disservice of the prophets & religions. He also confirmed that the freedom of expressing is limited by the ceiling dignity.

Mr. Schwab confirmed the importance of the above mentioned subject and promised that there will be mutual respect between all cultures and the debate between civilizations is crucial point of the economic forum.

At the end, Sheikh Faisal bin Qasem Al Tani presented a complementary souvenir to Mr. Claus Schwab on behalf of the Qatari Businessmen association.

 Qatari Businessmen Association

Tel: +974 44353120 Fax: +974 44353834  Email: [email protected]   P.O.Box : 24457 Doha -Qatar

Disclaimer: QBA assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or timeliness of the information. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the authors.