(Center) Haji Nordin Bin Haji Ahmad, Brunei Ambassador to Qatar and Vice Chairman of ACD, Ibrahim Fakhroo, Director of Protocol and Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum, Thailand's Ambassador to Qatar and Chairman of ACD with other officals during the Asean Flag Raisi
DOHA: The ASEAN Committee in Doha (ACD) will organize an ASEAN seminar in November aimed at promoting greater awareness among Qatari businesses about ASEAN’s trade and investment potentials.
This was announced by Thailand Ambassador and ACD Chairman Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum during the celebration of 50th ASEAN founding anniversary at the Thai Embassy yesterday.
“The seminar on trade and investment will highlight how Qatar and ASEAN can intensify their business relations for mutual benefit. This also corresponds to the new emphasis of the Qatari government towards diversification of trade and investment,” said Ambassador Chaiyindeepum.
Speaking to local media, the ambassador stressed ASEAN’s huge potential as an alternative source market for Qatar in terms of food and construction materials, among others.
“This is a good opportunity for us to make our presence felt in the Qatari market. We are here to assist in whatever they would like to have in terms of food security and construction materials, as well as for long-term investment,” he said.
He said ASEAN has a lot to offer to Qatar such as construction materials and food which are highly in demand and which Thailand has been exporting to the country.
As Qatar forges ahead towards self-reliance and diversification, Singaporean Jai Sohan Singh sees ASEAN and Qatar to be a very good fit.
“ASEAN wants to work with Qatar in terms of its Vision 2030. We provide a good source of products. If you look at ASEAN countries there are plenty of food sources. Halal food export is a big opportunity, so one thing we are looking in Singapore is exporting Halal food to Qatar,” said Ambassador Singh.
As ASEAN is a market which not many Qataris know, the seminar would be an excellent platform position itself in the Qatari market, added the Singaporean ambassador.
Building on the success of ASEAN-Qatar Chamber Joint Business Seminar held last year, the upcoming seminar is expected to see the participation of around 100 ASEAN companies operating in Qatar and around the GCC region, as well as Qatari companies.
The seminar will be held on November 20 at the Shangri-La Hotel Doha where a ten-day ASEAN Food Festival will also be organised.
“We have teamed up with Shangri-La Hotel Doha to promote ASEAN food from seven countries which are present in Qatar,” said Ambassador Chaiyindeepum.
The seminar and the food festival will serve as the highlight of this year’s programme to mark the 50th ASEAN founding anniversary, he added.
