18-06-2026
Qatar Chamber participated in the activities of the 29th Arab-German Business Forum, which kicked off today, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in the German capital Berlin, with broad participation from senior government officials, business leaders, and investors from Arab countries and Germany.
The forum is held under the theme “Beyond Transformation: Intelligence, Innovation and Impact,” coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ghorfa).
Qatar Chamber’s delegation was led by H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber and First Vice President of the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ghorfa). The delegation included Board Members Dr. Khalid bin Klefeekh Al Hajri and Mr. Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Obaidli, Acting General Manager Ali Bu Sherbak Al Mansori, Sheikha Tamader Al Thani, Director of International Relations and Chamber Affairs, and Mr. Ahmed Abu Nahya, Acting Director of the Public Relations Department.
The forum, organised by Ghorfa in cooperation with the Qatar Chamber and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), witnessed the participation of several prominent officials. H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the State of Qatar, and H.E. Mrs. Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister of Economy and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany, alongside presidents of Arab and German chambers of commerce and representatives of major companies and economic institutions attended the forum.
This year’s Forum placed special focus on the State of Qatar as the “Partner Country,” through an impact-driven program focusing on Qatar as a global investment hub.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim stressed that the forum represents a global economic platform that reflects the depth and continuity of the partnership between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the long-standing Arab-German relations built over decades of constructive cooperation and shared vision.
He emphasized that the current edition holds special significance, marking the 50th anniversary of Ghorfa, which has played a pivotal role in strengthening economic and trade cooperation and building long-term bridges of trust between both sides.
H.E. noted that Arab-German relations have been anchored in trust, economic complementarity, and shared strategic interests, indicating that Germany’s industrial and technological leadership, combined with the Arab world’s investment capacity and market dynamism, has shaped a partnership that extends well beyond trade into energy, infrastructure, advanced industries, and cultural relations.
H.E. further highlighted that the Qatari-German partnership stands out as a model of resilience and constructive engagement amid accelerating geopolitical and economic change.
“Guided by the leadership and directives of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, strengthening strategic partnerships stays a central pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 incorporating German innovation and industrial excellence with Qatar’s agility, resources, and long-term vision to drive sustainable growth and shared prosperity,” H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim added.
Sheikh Khalifa affirmed that Qatar has accelerated its transition toward a diversified, knowledge-based economy, supported by world-class infrastructure, strong financial foundations, and a competitive investment environment. This progress is reinforced by targeted reforms, including modern legislation, streamlined procedures, competitive tax frameworks, advanced financial systems, and sustained support for private sector growth clear signals of Qatar’s commitment to openness and investor confidence.
H.E. concluded that the forum presents a valuable opportunity to advance strategic dialogue, deepen partnerships, and unlock new avenues for collaboration, reinforcing Qatar’s position as a global investment destination.
Participants in the forum discussed ways to enhance economic and investment cooperation between the Arab world and Germany, the future of innovation and digital transformation, as well as energy, sustainability, supply chains, and industrial cooperation.
The eight panels covered key themes including artificial intelligence and R&D, advanced industrial corridors and regional growth, reconstruction and sustainable development, resilient and smart healthcare systems in cooperation with the German Health Alliance, the future of smart tourism, and the energy-water nexus.
The event also included several Qatari and regional roundtables aimed at exploring direct investment opportunities and strengthening diplomatic and economic networking between Arab and German stakeholders.
Al Obaidli Participates in a Panel Discussion on Innovation and Investment
Qatar Chamber Board Member Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Obaidli participated in the first panel session of the 29th Arab-German Business Forum, titled “Partner Country Qatar – Navigating Global Change: Investment, Innovation, and Strategic Cooperation in Times of Uncertainty.”
The session, moderated by Mr. Olaf Hoffmann, President of Ghorfa, highlighted Qatar’s role as a stable and diversified global hub for business and investment, driven by its economic diversification across energy, infrastructure, technology, aviation, tourism, and education. It also addressed the impact of geopolitical shifts on global trade and emphasized Qatar’s innovation-led and sustainable development model, as well as its strong partnership with Germany.
In his remarks, Al Obaidli underscored Qatar Chamber’s efforts to advance digital transformation in the private sector, noting the recent establishment of the Technology and Innovation Committee.
He explained that the Committee aims to support business digital transformation, promote technology adoption, and strengthen cooperation with global innovation partners. It serves as a bridge between technology providers, investors, policymakers, academia, startups, and the private sector, ensuring that innovation is translated into measurable economic value and business growth. The Committee also seeks to strengthen Qatar’s position as a globally connected digital economy hub while enabling businesses to access international markets and emerging digital opportunities.
He added that the Committee functions as a practical execution platform supporting SMEs and enterprises through digital transformation programmes, AI adoption initiatives, startup–corporate collaboration, innovation partnerships, cybersecurity readiness, workforce upskilling, and access to funding and technology ecosystems, solidifying Qatar’s position and a global hub for digital economy.
Al Obaidli called on German companies specialized in the technology sector to join the Technology and Innovation Committee at Qatar Chamber, noting that the committee will play an important role in enhancing cooperation in this vital and important sector.
During the discussions, Al Obaidli affirmed that Germany is one of the most prominent trading partners of Arab countries, with the volume of trade exchange between the two sides reaching approximately €57.6 billion in 2024. He also noted that joint investments between Germany and Arab countries have contributed to strengthening the longstanding economic relations between both sides.
Regarding the economic relations between the State of Qatar and Germany, Al Obaidli pointed out that more than 300 German companies are operating in the Qatari market across vital sectors such as energy, technology, services, construction, railways, telecommunications and digital transformation, as well as medical devices and equipment. He noted that Germany is the third-largest European destination for Qatari investments, while Qatar is one of the largest investors in the German economy, with investments amounting to around €25 billion.
Al Obaidli explained that Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays a pivotal role in strengthening economic relations between the State of Qatar and Germany by building bridges of communication between the business communities in both countries, facilitating investment and trade partnerships, and transforming the distinguished relations between the two countries into sustainable economic projects. He added that the future role of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry in developing relations with Germany will not be limited to increasing the volume of trade exchange, but will also extend to leading strategic partnerships based on innovation, entrepreneurship, and joint investment in the fields of technology and advanced industry.
