Qatar – Germany Business Forum

H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani
Chairman, Qatar Chamber

HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, a prominent member of the ruling family in the State of Qatar, has held the Chairmanship of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI) since May 2006.

Under his chairmanship, QCCI has flourished and developed into one of the most active chambers in the Gulf Region, playing a decisive role in representing, promoting and safeguarding the interests of the business community in Qatar.

HE Sheikh Khalifa also chairs the International Chamber of Commerce Qatar (ICC Qatar). His efforts in promoting the country to foreign businessmen and investors have strengthened Qatar’s trade with countries around the world, providing Qatari companies and businessmen with valuable opportunities. A firm believer in free trade and laissez passer economics, HE Sheikh Khalifa has worked tirelessly to identify new business opportunities, create strategic partnerships and cultivate existing relationships.

HE Sheikh Khalifa was the recipient of the prestigious International Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Merchant of Peace’ award in March 2017, in recognition of the role he played in the creation of ICC and QCCI’s World Trade Agenda Initiative. HE Sheikh Khalifa has participated in G20 summits, in Amiri and Ministerial delegations to foreign countries, and hosted the 8th World Chambers Congress.

HE Sheikh Khalifa holds a BSc in Economics and Political Science from Portland State University in the United States. After his graduation, he held several senior government positions. He currently holds the positions of Head of the Competition Protection and Anti-Monopoly Committee at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry ; Chairman of Al Dar Exchange Company; First Vice Chairman of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce; Fifth Vice Chairman of the Arab French Chamber of Commerce, First vice chairman and member of the Executive Committee of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman of the Qatar General Insurance & Reinsurance Company;, Active Board Member of several Arab-Foreign Joint Chambers of Commerce and the Union of Arab Chambers. H.E also chaired the Federation of Gulf Chambers of Commerce (FGCC) during the period 2014-2016.

Dr. Peter Ramsauer
Member of the German Bundestag
Chairman of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development
Federal Minister ret.

Degree in business administration, master miller, former Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development

Born in Munich on 10 February 1954. Roman Catholic. Married, four children.

Obtained Abitur at the Staatliches Landschulheim Marquartstein (High School). Studied business administration at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. Graduated with a degree in business administration in 1979. Awarded a doctorate in governance and public policy in 1985. Passed the master craftsman’s examination in 1980. Entrepreneur.

Joined the CSU-Party (Christian Social Union) in 1973. Deputy chairman of the CSU. Member of Traunreut town council from 1978 to 1991. Member of Traunstein district council since 1984.

Member of the German Bundestag since 1990. Chief Whip of the CSU parliamentary group from 1998 to 2005. Leader of the CSU parliamentary group from 2005 to 2009. Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development from 2009 to 2013.

Chairman of the German Bundestag’s Committee on Economic Affairs and Energy from 2014 to 2018.

Currently:
Chairman of the German Bundestag’s Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development since January 2018.

President of the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry e.V. (Ghorfa) since June 2014.

H.E. Mohammad Bin Jaham Al Kuwari.
Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany

Date of Birth
May 20, 1958.

Academic Qualifications:
He obtained a BA in Political Science from Portland State University in the US state of Oregon in 1980, and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1990.

Work Experience
H.E. Mohammed Jaham Al-Kuwari served as Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Madrid and non-resident Ambassador to Andorra from 2017-2019. From 2013 to 2016, H.E. Al-Kuwari worked as Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United State of America in Washington D.C. as well as Ambassador to the Republic of France, non-resident Ambassador to Switzerland, Vatican, Monaco, Portugal, Belgium, Spain and Luxembourg. In 1981, H.E. Al-Kuwari joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Third Secretary. From 1981 to 1986, H.E. Al- Kuwari worked at the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington D.C. and in Madrid during the period (1986 – 1990). From 1990 to 1991, H.E. Al-Kuwari served as Head of the Information Department in the Administration of the Cooperation Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1991 to 1992, he was appointed to work at The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Tehran. From 1993 to 1995, Ambassador Al-Kuwari worked as Deputy Director of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and from 1995 to 1997, as Director of the Department of European and American Affairs. From 1997 to 2001 he was appointed as Director of the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 2001 to 2002, H.E. Al-Kuwari was appointed once again as Director of the Department of European and American Affairs. From 1997-2001, H.E. Al-Kuwari was a member of the Committee for Diplomatic Transitions. From 2002 to 2003, H.E. Al-Kuwari worked as Roving Ambassador and a Spokesman for the constitution in 2003. In 2010, Ambassador Al-Kuwari granted the rank of Minister. Al-Kuwari received many order of Merits during his tenure as a diplomat, among them the Legion of Honor in France in 1998, the Medal of Friendly Cooperation from the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1998, and the Grand Cross Medal, the highest degree of accolade medals from the Vatican in 2006, and in 2007 the French President awarded him The National Honor Chorus Medal with the rank of Officer, and received the Order of Merit from Portugal in 2012, and in 2013 the French President awarded him the National Honor Chorus Medal with the rank of Commander, which is the highest honor in France.

Marital Status
He is married and has five children

Languages
Arabic, English, French and Spanish