H.E. Minister of State for Foreign Trade Holds Extensive Meetings and Participates in Ministerial Sessions During World Investment Forum 2026
The ninth edition of the World Investment Forum 2026, which concluded yesterday in Doha, witnessed extensive participation by H.E. Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, in several high-level ministerial sessions and dialogues addressing the future of global investment, strengthening the resilience of value chains, expanding economic and investment partnerships, and supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. His Excellency also held a series of bilateral meetings with senior officials, representatives of international organizations, and business leaders.
His Excellency participated in the session titled “Rebuilding Global Value Chains for Growth and Resilience,” which discussed the role of investment policies and international cooperation in strengthening the resilience of global value chains. He also participated in the “Investment Ministerial Roundtable,” which explored economies’ readiness for the future of investment, mechanisms to stimulate private-sector investment, and opportunities to expand international partnerships.
His Excellency also participated in the session titled “The Future of Investment in the Gulf Region,” which examined investment prospects across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, opportunities to strengthen economic and investment integration, attract foreign investment, and consolidate the region’s position as a global investment destination.
His Excellency also took part in “The ASEAN Dialogue,” where he affirmed Qatar’s commitment to strengthening its economic and investment partnerships with the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and expanding opportunities for mutual investment. He also participated in the “Ministerial Roundtable on Entrepreneurship,” which addressed the development of innovation ecosystems and enhanced cooperation among governments, educational institutions, the private sector, and investors to enable entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into productive and scalable ventures.
During his participation, His Excellency affirmed that Qatar continues to strengthen its economic openness, diversify its trade and investment partnerships, develop alternative trade routes, enhance supply chain resilience, and invest in physical and digital connectivity, contributing to the competitiveness of the national economy and its ability to adapt to global transformations.
On the sidelines of the Forum, H.E. Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, held a series of meetings with heads and representatives of international and regional organizations. These included H.E. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO); H.E. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD; H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council; Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN; H.E. Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism; and Dr. Raja M. Almarzoqi, GCC Chief Negotiator. The meetings addressed ways to strengthen economic, trade, and investment cooperation and develop partnerships with regional and international institutions.
His Excellency also held a series of meetings with ministers and senior officials from brotherly and friendly countries, including H.E. Daniyar Joldoshevich Amangeldiev, First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic; H.E. Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; H.E. Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan; H.E. Li Chenggang, International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China; H.E. Mohammed Noori Al-Karboli, Minister of Industry and Minerals of the Republic of Iraq, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Mustafa Nazar Jumaah, Minister of Trade of Iraq; H.E. Abdulaziz Nasser Abdulaziz Al-Marzouq, State Minister for Economic Affairs and Investment of the State of Kuwait; and H.E. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The meetings also included Senator Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations of Jersey; H.E. Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development of Sri Lanka; H.E. Nazar Halnazarovich Agahanov, Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan; H.E. Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye; H.E. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of Industry, of the Republic of Djibouti; and H.E. Gamal Mohamed Hassan, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
His Excellency also met with H.E. Dr. Amer Bisat, Minister of Economy and Trade of the Lebanese Republic; H.E. Dr. Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar, Minister of Economy and Industry of the Syrian Arab Republic; H.E. Abdurahmonzoda Abdurahmon Safarali, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan; H.E. Sayed Muhammad Aadil Ameer Meea, Minister of Industry, SMEs and Cooperatives of the Republic of Mauritius; H.E. Dr. Kirida Bhaopichitr, Vice Minister for Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand; and H.E. Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo, Minister of Trade, Supply and Consumption, in charge of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), of the Republic of Congo. The meetings focused on developing bilateral trade, expanding investment opportunities, and strengthening ties between business communities.
His Excellency also met with Mr. James Ryu, Chairman of the SK SUPEX Council of the Republic of Korea, to discuss opportunities for investment cooperation with Korean companies in priority sectors, particularly those related to knowledge and technology transfer.
His Excellency also met with Mr. Frederick Ma Si-hang, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), to discuss opportunities to strengthen trade and investment cooperation and develop ties between business communities.
In his remarks during the closing session, H.E. Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed emphasized that the success of the Forum should be measured by the extent to which partnerships are translated into tangible projects and commitments into productive investments that generate new economic opportunities, facilitate knowledge transfer, and create employment opportunities. His Excellency stressed the importance of dialogue and international cooperation in promoting stability and achieving sustainable development.
His Excellency further noted that Qatar's hosting of the Forum reflects its continued commitment to open trade, constructive dialogue, and sustainable investment. He affirmed Qatar's commitment to continuing its cooperation with UNCTAD and international partners to translate shared ambitions into tangible and measurable progress.
As part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's participation in the Forum, Mr. Saleh Majed Al-Khulaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industry and Business Development Affairs at the Ministry, participated in the session titled “From National Industrial Strategies to Regional Value Chains: The GCC as a Platform for Industrial Integration.” The session examined ways to strengthen industrial integration across the GCC and develop regional value chains to enhance the competitiveness of the industrial sector in GCC countries.
Mr. Saleh Abdullah Al-Mana, Assistant Undersecretary for Commerce Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, participated in the session titled “Towards Trusted Global Governance of Intellectual Property and Investment,” where he highlighted Qatar's efforts to develop its intellectual property framework and strengthen its innovation and investment environment. He also emphasized the importance of advancing legal and institutional frameworks and international dispute resolution mechanisms to support investment and sustainable development.
Mr. Hamad Al-Nasr, Director of the Trade Development and Investment Promotion Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, participated in the Forum's opening press conference, where he outlined its key themes and objectives. He highlighted Qatar's role in supporting international cooperation and developing the business and investment environment, as well as the promising investment opportunities available in the country. He emphasized the Forum's importance as an international platform for exchanging expertise and building partnerships that support sustainable investment.
The Forum also witnessed the participation of several senior executives from Qatar's economic and investment institutions, including H.E. Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar), who participated in the session titled “Global Investment Promotion Conference: From Climate Priorities to Investment: Accelerating the Energy Transition Project Pipeline.” The session examined existing barriers to promoting energy-transition projects and highlighted approaches to translating climate priorities into actionable investment opportunities.
H.E. Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al-Thani and H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani, CEO of the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), also participated in the session titled “Navigating a New Investment Era: The Role of Investment Promotion Agencies and Special Economic Zones,” which explored the role of these institutions in attracting investment and strengthening economic competitiveness.
Mr. Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater, CEO of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), participated in the session titled “Driving Investment in Emerging Markets: The Role of GEMS Statistics,” which discussed the importance of data and statistics in supporting investment decisions and enhancing the attractiveness of emerging markets.