The QFC delegation with Russian representatives during SPIEF.
The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), one of the world’s leading and fastest growing onshore business and financial centres, joined world leaders from government and global organisations during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia.
Qatar and Russia have enjoyed a long history of strong bilateral relations and have witnessed a significant leap forward in recent years through joint collaborations and investments in the fields of trade, banking and finance, technology, and oil and gas.
The QFC attended the forum as part of a Qatari delegation, which included high-level executives from the QFC, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Qatar National Tourism Council, Qatar Investment Authority, Ooredoo, Qatar Airways, Qatar Chamber, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar Free Zones Authority and others.
In addition, the CEO of the QFC participated in a panel discussion entitled: ‘How Can Financial Centres Survive in the Era of FinTech?’ alongside other global leaders. The CEO also took part in two other panel discussions entitled “Doing business in Qatar” and “Qatar the Future Trade Hub”, where the potential for cooperation between Qatar and Russia, and the overall competitive advantage of the Qatari market for businesses and international investors were discussed. The QFC also held several high-profile meetings with channel partners from industry and trade.
Furthermore, the QFC attended sideline events hosted by Fahd Bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Ambassador for the State of Qatar to the Russian Federation, and SBERBANK, one of the leading state-owned Russian banking and financial services company.
Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer, QFC Authority said: “Qatar and Russia have enjoyed a long history of strong bilateral trade relations and this has been reaffirmed through recent agreements that aim to further strengthen relations in several fields and to enhance joint cooperation, especially in economic and trade fields. The financial industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past 5, 10 years – from increasing mergers and consolidation, to the shifting of fintech from a peripheral concern to a central one. I am therefore delighted to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum for the very first time, alongside other thought leaders from around the world to engage in productive high-level discussions.”
Sarah Al-Dorani, Chief Marketing and Corporate Communications Officer, QFC Authority said: ”SPIEF offered a great platform to engage with important entities such as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation; Business Russia, an organisation that unites thousands of Russian SMEs; and the office of the Republic of Sakha, the largest subnational governing body by area in the world. We look forward to building closer ties and partnerships, and exploring key opportunities for both inward and outward business growth in such a primary market.”
SPIEF has been held since 1997, and since 2006, it has been held under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation, who has also attended each event. Over the last 20 years, the Forum has become a leading global platform for members of the business community to meet and discuss key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets, and the world as a whole. Furthermore, Qatar is poised to be the official guest host country during the 2020 edition of SPIEF, and a sideline event is also expected to take place in Qatar.
