0.png)
Washington, DC – On June 16th, 2022, the US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC) hosted a Summer Rooftop Reception at USQBC’s office building at 1700 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC.
The Reception was hosted on the occasion of the newly appointed President of USQBC, Scott Taylor. The event was attended by USQBC members and partners, government representatives from both the US and Qatar, as well as the wider business community.
The following officials delivered remarks during the event:
In his welcoming remarks, Mohammed Barakat, Managing Director and Treasurer of the Board of Directors of USQBC, said, “Former Congressman Scott Taylor brings with him incredible global experience which will benefit USQBC Members and also the wider US-Qatar business community. For over 25 years, USQBC has played a key role in the advancement of US-Qatar bilateral business relationship, and I look forward to Scott’s contribution to that legacy.”
The event’s guest of honor, Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States, said, “USQBC made an excellent choice in selecting Congressman Taylor as its next president. The Council has played an essential role in developing the tremendous commercial ties between Qatar and the United States that exist today, but even greater opportunities lie in front of us. With Scott as its President, I look forward to the Council’s support in realizing that potential and building on the extraordinary Qatar-US partnership.”
“Today’s reception presents an exciting opportunity to celebrate and continue the impactful legacy of USQBC with the appointment of Scott Taylor as USQBC’s President,” Andrew Lundquist, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs of ConocoPhillips and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of USQBC. “I look forward to the continued strength of the US-Qatar bilateral business relationship and how it will continue to expand.”
Scott Taylor, President of USQBC, said “It is an absolute honor to take the helm as the President of the US-Qatar Business Council. For fifty years our two nations have forged a friendship and an enduring partnership. As the go-to business organization between the two countries, the council is ready to take both bilateral trade and our growing relationship to the next level. The best of our partnership is yet to come, and I look forward to helping steer its success for many years to come.”
Scott Taylor is a former Congressman and US Navy SEAL. As a Congressman representing Virginia’s 2nd district, Scott Taylor served on the Appropriations Committee. He was a sponsor of the Ashanti Alert Act, a nationwide network for missing persons, and the VA SEA Act for accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior, Scott Taylor served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the State of Qatar. This milestone signifies the longevity and strength of the bilateral ties between the two countries. The United States and Qatar have established a solid base for distinguished regional and international political relations, in addition to deep commercial, security, and cultural partnerships. In recognition of this special partnership, following the January 31 visit by Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the White House, President Joe Biden designated Qatar as a “Major Non-NATO Ally” to the United States.
The bilateral business ties between the United States and Qatar continue to solidify with the total economic relationship between them exceeding $200 billion as of 2019. The US is Qatar’s largest foreign direct investor with a total of $110.6 billion in FDI and is the largest single source of exports to Qatar at $6.5 billion in goods in 2019. In the past five years, Qatar has imported over $23 billion from the US, and over 850 US companies now operate in Qatar.
Qatar is also an increasingly large investor in the United States having pledged over $45 billion in investment over the coming years with key investments already having been made across multiple sectors including oil and gas, financial technology, real estate, food production, and hospitality, among others.