H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, led the State of Qatar’s official delegation to the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit, hosted in the U.S. state of Maryland with the participation of senior officials, decisionmakers and business leaders from across the globe.
Qatar’s participation underscores its commitment to expanding international economic partnerships and exploring new opportunities in global markets, particularly in the United States as a leading global investment destination.
The Qatari delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Free Zones Authority, and Qatar Financial Centre. Delegates took part in various panel discussions and bilateral meetings focused on exploring pathways for cooperation across key sectors.
As part of the summit’s activities, H.E. Dr. Al-Sayed toured the accompanying exhibition, visiting pavilions representing several U.S. states, including New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, North Carolina, Indiana, and California. The tour aimed to explore potential areas of collaboration between Qatar and the United States, particularly in attracting investment and exchanging expertise.
The Minister also attended a reception hosted by the US-Qatar Business Council as a Guest of Honour. The event brought together senior government officials and leading business figures from Qatar and the United States, and reaffirmed the strength of the two countries’ strategic partnership, built on mutual trust and a shared vision for sustainable development and economic prosperity.
On the sidelines of the summit, Dr. Al-Sayed held a series of bilateral meetings, including with H.E. Mr. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, and senior U.S. officials and economic stakeholders, including Ms. Julia Khersonsky, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, and industry, and addressing key topics of mutual interest.
The Minister highlighted Qatar’s wide range of investment entities available for U.S. investors, including the Qatar Free Zones, Qatar Financial Centre, Qatar Science and Technology Park, and Media City Qatar. His Excellency emphasised the role of these platforms as strategic gateways to regional and global markets, because of their competitive advantages and cutting-edge infrastructure.
His Excellency also underlined the importance of expanding cooperation between Qatar and the United States in key sectors such as advanced technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, transport, tourism, and higher education. The State Minister expressed Qatar’s interest in building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships that support both countries' economic growth.
The Minister invited U.S. and international investors to explore the promising opportunities offered by Qatar’s economy and to leverage the momentum of the event to enhance commercial and investment partnerships, based on innovation and sustainability.
The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the U.S. Government’s premier event to attract foreign direct investment. It aims to promote the United States as a top investment destination by connecting international investors with U.S. state and local representatives and businesses to explore investment opportunities and build strategic partnerships.
Qatar and the United States have robust economic and trade relations. The United States is one of Qatar’s top trading partners, with bilateral cooperation spanning numerous sectors. Over the past five years, the trade volume between the two countries reached roughly USD 29.6 billion. The Qatari market is home to nearly 1000 US companies, in addition to multiple strategic partnerships signed between Qatar Investment Authority and several U.S. institutions.
