His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the Second Business Forum of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries in Doha today Wednesday 2nd October. The forum, held under the theme 'Artificial Intelligence and New Business Models', took place on the sidelines of the third summit of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue. The forum was attended by ministers from member states of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, as well as His Excellency Ambassador Nasser bin Thamer Al-Mutairi, Secretary-General of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, along with a number of officials, experts, academics, heads of regional organizations, investors and businessmen from Qatar and other Asian countries. In his opening speech, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Thani, emphasized that Qatar's hosting of the forum for the second consecutive time, reflects its commitment to enhancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation with countries in the Asian continent.  He pointed out the strong ties linking Qatar with the Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries in various fields, especially in economic and trade sectors, noting that these relationships have witnessed significant development in recent years, thanks to high-level official visits, joint investment projects and cooperation within the private sector. He added that Qatar, as a member of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, which includes 35 countries, seeks to enhance integration among Asian economies by activating cooperation in mutually beneficial areas. He noted that trade exchange among the Dialogue countries has seen remarkable growth, making the Asian continent a prominent region and the second most integrated trade area in the world. He explained that, according to statistics, the intra-Asian trade percentage reached 57% of total trade in 2022, compared to 54% in 2000. Additionally, trade in goods experienced an annual growth rate of 5% among Asian countries between 2017 and 2023, reflecting the strength of trade links between Asian countries and their pivotal role in enhancing global trade. Regarding foreign direct investment, he noted that Asia maintained its standing, with foreign investment inflows to the region increasing by 8%, while outward flows rose by 18%. This reflected Asia's resilience to face global challenges and strengthened its position as a vital economic and investment hub on the international stage. His Excellency touched upon the successes that the State of Qatar achieved in recent years, highlighting the diversification of the economy and support for non-oil sectors, including digital technology, cybersecurity, financial and logistical services, as well as renewable energy. He also emphasized that Qatar has made significant advancements since the launch of the Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly in infrastructure, which has greatly contributed to economic development across various vital sectors in the country.  In conclusion, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Thani, expressed his eagerness to diversify and strengthen economic partnerships with Asian countries, emphasizing the importance of investments in sectors that provide added value and contribute to establishing successful investment partnerships. He also praised the role of many Asian companies currently operating in Qatar, extending his welcome for more Asian investments to Qatar in the future. The forum was structured around three sessions, with the first focused on 'Opportunities and Incentives for Investment in Qatar' while the second session discussed the ‘Challenges of Digital Transformation’ and the third explored the ‘Business Path to Artificial Intelligence'. Additionally, the forum featured bilateral meetings between businessmen from the Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries, who discussed ways to build sustainable economic cooperation mechanisms and explore available investment opportunities in various fields.