Doha.biz , Doha Business and Investment

DOHA: Qatar Airways hailed its partnership of the inaugural Business Travel Market in London a huge success with the two-day event which attracted corporate travel buyers from across Europe. The airline was the main Platinum sponsor of the show, held at the ExCeL Conference Centre in east London.

Qatar Airways used the show as the platform to announce the global roll-out of its Qbiz corporate travel rewards programme for small- and medium-sized companies, and also revealed December 6 as the launch date of its Australian flights to Melbourne.

Delegates were also able to sample the airline’s inflight experience on the Qatar Airways exhibition stand by trying out its new long-haul Business Class seats, which convert into fully-flat beds.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the show lived up to its promise of attracting key corporate travel buyers.

“The Business Travel Market was a perfect opportunity for Qatar Airways to showcase its wonderful hospitality to European corporate travel buyers, and indeed rest of the travel industry present at the show. Qatar Airways has signed a three-year commitment for sponsorship of the show and we look forward to being back in London next year.”

Qatar Airways’ UK Area Manager Rachel Finn said: “There was an incredible amount of interest among corporates in our QBiz travel rewards programme, which we officially announced and rolled out globally at the show. A number of corporates signed up. With corporates and travelling employees able to earn QMiles through the airline’s Privilege Club loyalty programme each time they fly, the added value benefits of our new corporate travel programme far outweigh programmes offered by our competitors.”

  Doha, June 24 (QNA) - Qatar could soon become a major hub of the global insurance and reinsurance businesses with the establishment of “Qatarlyst”, a company set up by the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) as an insurance technology provider. Qatarlyst chairman Abdulrahman Ahmed al-Shaibi said the new venture has ample government backing and would tread on a safe path in the coming years to deliver high quality insurance services in the region, according to the “Gulf Times” newspaper Wednesday. “Our vision is to make the QFC the financial centre of the whole of the Middle East region and to attract regional and international insurance and reinsurance firms to Qatar as their preferred location to do business in the region. Efforts will be made to make the country the Middle East’s insurance hub,” al-Shaibi said. Al-Shaibi, who is also a non-executive QFC director, added that the QFC’s structure facilitated the setting up of a company such as Qatarlyst and the new company will help the QFC achieve its goals. “Qatarlyst will also help advance the sophistication of the insurance activities, in Qatar and outside,” he said. Al-Shaibi also expressed the hope that the new firm would help bring an array of international insurers, reinsures and brokers together on a single platform to conduct commercial insurance and reinsurance activities through a “unique” system. Al-Shaibi said Qatarlyst will support the growth of the country’s financial sector and raise the financial services standards. It will also generate new employment opportunities for financial professionals and help the QFC become the region’s most preferred financial destination, he said. He said Qatarlyst will provide a more efficient, effective and manageable means of facilitating and processing documentation for the insurance industry through an innovative web-based system. Al-Shaibi said the region’s insurance industry is under-developed compared to the rest of the world. “By mitigating the consequences of the financial crisis, insurance encourages investment and innovation. Insurers and reinsurers contribute to the efficient use of capital based on their role as significant, long-term institutional investors,” he said. (QNA)

Web posted at: 6/23/2009 2:54:47
Source ::: BY NASSER AL HARTHY  

DOHA: Ongoing discussions to bring the prestigious French business school — Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) — and the French Institute of Petroleum (Instiut Francais du Petrole) to operate in the Education City here are expected to get a boost with the visit of the Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned to Paris.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the French Embassy here said yesterday that Qatari-French relations had been steadily growing.

The two countries are increasingly focussing to bolster ties in other fields as well, including research, culture and arts. French energy giant Total has already set up a research centre at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).

French imports from Qatar rose by a significant 252 percent while exports fell a bit last year mainly due to delays in deliveries of Airbus planes. Aircraft sales accounted for 29 percent of French exports to Qatar last year. However, future deliveries are expected to reverse the trend.

French firms in Qatar cover a wide range of sectors and their number currently estimated at over 40 has been increasing steadily. Areva, for instance is a world-leading company in nuclear energy, while Veolia is specialised in a range of waste management services and water treatment.

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Web posted at: 6/20/2009 1:40:23
Source ::: AGENCIES
DOHA: Qatar ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region in terms of having a constructive business environment, a survey said.

FRANKFURT, June 20 (Reuters) - The Qatar Investment Authority could acquire more shares in ailing German sports car maker Porsche SE (PSHG_p.DE) than previously thought, German magazine Focus said.

In an advance copy of an article due to be published on June 22, the magazine referred to details of a paper outlining the future ownership structure that it said Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking had presented to the Porsche and Piech families.

It said there had been a provision for an external investor to hold 29.9 percent, when so far only a 25 percent share had been mentioned. However, there was no direct mention of Qatar.

Qatar has been discussing the possible size of a stake with Porsche and is due to reveal the outcome in two to three weeks, according to media reports.

Focus also said a Qatari delegation would discuss possible details with the state of Lower Saxony, which is home to Volkswagen. The state owns just over 20 percent of VW and has to approve any deals related to Porsche and VW.

Porsche amassed a 9 billion euro ($12.5 billion) net debt pile in its aborted attempt to acquire 75 percent of Volkswagen AG VOVG.DE votes and has looked to rescue itself by uniting with its cash-rich subsidiary, which is Europe’s largest carmaker.

Volkswagen CEO Ferdinand Piech is a member of the family that controls Porsche.

German car maker Daimler (DAIGn.DE) is also in advanced talks to buy a stake in Porsche, German magazine manager magazin reported on Friday on its website, citing financial sources.

(Reporting by Vera Eckert; editing by David Stamp)

Web posted at: 6/17/2009 1:14:9
Source ::: The Peninsula
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker flanked by Ted Button, Qatar Airways Executive Senior Vice-President; and Steven Ridolfi, President of Bombardier Business Aircraft, at the launching ceremony held on the sidelines of Paris Air Show yesterday.
PARIS: Qatar Airways yesterday announced the setting up of a corporate jet subsidiary – Qatar Executive – as part of the airline’s ongoing robust global growth strategy and continued commitment to the Middle East business travel community.

Two new Bombardier Challenger 605 aircraft, due to be delivered later this month, will be able to fly non-stop up to 4,000 nautical miles reaching destinations throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. Based at Qatar Airways’ hub at Doha International Airport, they will join a recently-delivered Bombardier Challenger 300 aircraft.

The latest moves also demonstrate Qatar Airways’ robust growth – continued investment in aircraft and infrastructure with more than $40bn worth of planes currently on order and over $15bn being injected in building a new international airport in Doha and upgrading the existing airport.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the creation of Qatar Executive demonstrated the airline’s commitment to meet the needs of a premium market segment looking for more flexibility as well as value for money.

“Despite the current global economic climate, there remains a strong need for the corporate to conduct face to face business meetings in the shortest possible time so travel is still important as is time management,” he said, speaking on the second day of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget.

Added Al Baker: “With an initial fleet of three corporate jets, Qatar Executive will enable the corporate traveller to book an aircraft in little as four hours before departure and check-in 10 minutes prior to take-off. The personal onboard attention, comfort, fine dining and speed at which the aircraft flies ensure the experience are rewarding and memorable.”

The Bombardier Challenger 300 and 605 aircraft feature eight and 11 leather seats respectively, which recline into fully berthable sleeping compartments. The interiors have premium fittings with plenty of space for meetings. Qatar Executive customers will use the VIP Terminal for departures and arrivals at Doha International Airport.

Qatar Executive is headed up by Ted Button, a veteran of the aviation industry with more than 25 years experience in jet aircraft management in the United States and over 30 years as a pilot.

“We know that the Middle East is underserved in the corporate aircraft segment, but by utilising the Five Star service of Qatar Airways as a model to build a new corporate jet venture is, we believe, the right way forward to capitalise on this key market,” said Button, Qatar Executive’s Senior Vice-President.

Qatar Executive has also launched a website www.qatarexec.com where prospective customers can make enquiries.

Web posted at: 6/11/2009 2:45:48
Source ::: The Peninsula
Doha: Credit Suisse is expanding its presence in Qatar by rolling out its complete range of integrated banking solutions. It will now offer investment banking and asset management services in addition to private banking services to clients here.

Reacting to the development, Bassam Yammine, Co-CEO of Credit Suisse Middle East and Head of Investment Banking and Asset Management for the MENA region, said: “We are confident that Qatar will emerge as one of GCC’s most vibrant financial markets, taking into account economic growth, levels of debt, valuations and sentiment. Credit Suisse will offer our clients an extensive roster of investment and advisory resources in response to the new and sophisticated needs of this market. ”

Bruno Daher, Co-CEO of Credit Suisse Middle East and Head of Private Banking for the Middle East / Indian Subcontinent, added: “This announcement underscores the importance of Qatar to our Middle East strategy. We are pleased to be able to expand our offering to our local clients who have increasingly sophisticated needs.”

Aladdin Hangari, Head of Credit Suisse in Qatar, said, “Credit Suisse will focus on an integrated approach, offering its clients specialised solutions in private banking, investment banking and asset management. Credit Suisse’s global banking expertise coupled with local knowledge will enable it to deliver a unique offering to its clients.”

Credit Suisse was granted a financial services license by the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) in 2006. At the same time, Credit Suisse Financial Services (Qatar) LLC, a subsidiary of Credit Suisse, secured an authorisation by the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) to do business at the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC.

During the past two years, the bank has actively catered to the dynamic needs of high net worth individuals and institutional clients in Qatar, offering a comprehensive range of investment advisory services and products.

Credit Suisse is highly committed to the Middle East and has been active in the region for four decades.

The second edition of the Doha Trade Fair, described as the “biggest shopping event” in Qatar this season, will get underway at the Doha Exhibitions Centre from Thursday.
The 10-day “shopper’s paradise” has the backing of the Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (QTEA) and the Al Maraya Public Relations Company.
There will be 514 stands displaying a wide range of products and services from 400 exhibitors from more than 20 countries in addition to two dozen Qatar-based companies.
Special country pavilions have been designated for Bahrain, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.
Visitors can choose from the latest in clothes, curtains, food, accessories, home supplies, decorations, games, sport equipments, art crafts and furniture of international brands from several countries including Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, Korea, Thailand and Turkey.
The fair is open to all from 11am to 10pm from Saturday to Thursday and 4pm to 11pm on Fridays, an official said yesterday.
The first Doha Trade Fair last year was part of the greater Qatar Summer Festival that ran from July 15 to August 5. The number of stalls then was 345 spread over 10,000sq m.
QTEA Local Exhibitions head Lahdan al-Mohannadi said: “We are proud to host the 2009 edition of the Doha Trade Fair, which will gather for the first time exhibitors from so many diverse countries and offer a wider range of unique products.”
Al Maraya’s managing director Jaber al-Mansouri said: “Doha Trade Fair 2009 stands as a special international trading and shopping experience for traders and businessmen to make successful as well as profitable bargains, as they can purchase large quantities of international products under one roof.”
The over 100,000 visitors expected to visit the fair will be given gifts at the main information counter, al-Mansouri said.

Web posted at: 6/9/2009 6:38:34 Source ::: THE PENINSULA / BY JOYCE C ABAÑO
DOHA: A senior banker here sees the global financial crisis easing and its impact becoming clearer over the next three months.

“We are in a recovery mode,” R Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, told this newspaper yesterday, talking of the world economic down.

He said the sagging real estate market here was stabilising after the government offered to buy local banks’ real estate investments.

According to Seetharaman, the government’s real estate package worth QR15bn for Qatari banks, announced recently, will not only check the downward trend in the property market but will also improve the risk profile of the banks.

“We are seeing positive results in the real estate market from the government’s investment bailout… By lowering the risk inherent in investment portfolios, the solvency of the banks is boosted.”

He said he saw the global financial crisis in a “recovery mode” and added: “Over the next three months, we will see the impact…To explain it simply, a few months ago, we saw a downward trend. Over the next three months, we see an even line. At the start of the fourth quarter, we will see a rise.”

The government’s timely assistance had improved the world’s confidence in the country. “Investment has almost gone through depletion, and they fixed it… the real estate sector has gone through depletion, and they fixed it…”

Talking about how he sees Doha Bank’s performance this year, he said: “We see stable and functional growth for the bank.”

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