US secretary of commerce visits Qatar as part of Middle East trade mission
The Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, discussed her Middle East trade mission, and highlighted growing commercial ties between Qatar and the US, and American efforts to boost exports to the region.
American companies have the expertise to help Qatar construct world-class infrastructure," said US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. (Image US Department of Commerce)Secretary Pritzker is currently leading a delegation of 21 American companies on a trade mission to the Gulf - her first trade mission outside North America as Secretary of Commerce. According to a statement from the department of commerce, “the trade mission is specifically focussed on opportunities for US businesses in the infrastructure sector, and will specifically focus on areas such as project management and engineering (including construction, architecture and design), renewable energy (solar, wind, waste-to-energy), smart grid and energy efficiency, and environmental technologies (including water/wastewater, air pollution control, and waste management).”
US exports to Qatar have increased by 57 percent since 2010.
“The United States and our businesses truly value our strong commercial and economic ties with the Gulf region, and recognise that working together is a win-win,” said Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “American companies have the expertise to help Qatar construct world-class infrastructure, and when US firms sell their goods and services to new markets, the American economy stands to gain. I hope this trade mission will lead to many more mutually-beneficial relationships between our two nations.”
According to figures from the Department of Commerce, the United States posted a trade surplus with Qatar of USD2.6 billion (QAR9.5 billion) from January to August 2013. Total US exports to Qatar totalled USD3.6 billion (QAR13.1 billion) through August 2013, a new record. Since the launch of the US National Export Initiative in 2010, under President Obama, which focussed on improving trade promotion, US exports to Qatar have increased by 57 percent.
Later this month, the executive committee and board of governors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar will lead a delegation to Washington, D.C. to meet Congressional leaders and Administration officials to discuss opportunities for American businesses in Qatar and Qatari investment in the United States (US).
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