Invest Qatar announced that it will host a virtual Qatar Pavilion via an online exhibition on the official website of the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE). The Expo, which is organised by the Chinese government, will be held virtually and in Shanghai over five days between 5-10 November 2021 and comes under the theme “New Era, Shared Future”. 

The Qatar pavilion, which is the first of its kind for Qatar at the annual exhibition, will comprise of four sub-themes: Culture and Tourism, Development Achievements, Leading Industries, and a Representative Entities area made up of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; the Qatar Financial Centre; the Qatar Free Zones Authority; and the Qatar Science and Technology Park. Qatar’s participation in this year’s Expo aims to present the State’s fertile business landscape and the services of its licensing platforms to international companies and entities from around the globe. 

Commenting on Qatar’s participation in the Expo, Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO, IPA Qatar, said: “We are delighted to represent Qatar at the country’s first pavilion at this year’s China International Import Expo. Attracting foreign investment continues to be a key pillar of our national growth and diversification strategy, and our participation will also strengthen our cooperation with key partners such as the People’s Republic of China to drive bilateral investment and development between our two countries. Our participation will also showcase our country’s attractive pro-business climate to investors from around the world that are attending the Expo, and we will continue to work closely with new and potential partners to increase opportunities for foreign investment into Qatar.”

H. E. Mr. Zhou Jian, Chinese Ambassador to the State of Qatar, said: “On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to express my appreciation to Qatar for its support and active participation in the 4th CIIE. Qatar has participated in all editions of the CIIE since its first session in 2018, and Qatar’s participation reinforces a positive message that both China and Qatar are committed to further deepening their economic, trade and investment cooperation. Qatar holds special significance in China’s history of economic and trade development. This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the World Trade Organization at the fourth WTO Ministerial Conference held in Doha in 2001. Over the past two decades, with the hard work and dedicated efforts of the Chinese people under the firm leadership of the Communist Party of China, China has become the world’s second-largest economy and the largest trading country in goods. Our bilateral trade with Qatar has also seen rapid and remarkable growth with China now Qatar's largest trading partner and the leading country of origin for Qatar’s imports. In the first 8 months of 2021, the total volume of trade in goods between the two countries amounted to US $10.8 billion, close to the full-year amount of last year.”

“China firmly adheres to a win-win opening-up strategy and policy, and will continuously deepen its reforms, expand further its opening-up. China's development brings great opportunities to the world. Having entered a new development stage, China will embrace the new development philosophy and foster a new development paradigm, focusing on cultivating domestic demand, and expanding outward foreign investment. China's huge market of 1.4 billion people and its corresponding consumption potential will provide a new strategic opportunity for cooperation between our two countries. Looking ahead, we will continue to work with our Qatari friends to elevate bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a new level, contributing to achieving both countries’ respective developmental goals, bringing more tangible and concrete benefits to our two peoples.”

Hosted by the Chinese Government, the CIIE aims to strengthen international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchanges, and open cooperation between countries globally and to connect exhibiting countries with participating representatives from both the public and private sectors. More than 3000 enterprises from 127 countries and regions will display their quality products and services at this year’s event. 

To check out Qatar’s virtual pavilion at CIIE visit: https://country.ciie.org/2021/Qatar/index.html?lang=en_US#ENG