More than 500 foreign companies will participate in the 14th International Business Development Forum: Futurallia Qatar 2009”, Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry has announced. For the first time in the Middle East, the forum will be held between May 10 and 12, 2009 at Doha Exhibition Centre, under the patronage of Qatar’s Prime Minister and aminister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani. Futurallia is an annual international business matchmaking forum devoted to companies involved in international trade and investments that are looking to grow their business internationally. Futurallia Qatar 2009 is organised by Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry and World Trade Center Qatar (WTC) in collaboration with the Federation of GCC Chambers. Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed al Thani, was pleased to announce the great success of the forum in attracting as many foreign companies which is a clear signal of foreign companies and investors’ interest in the Qatari market despite unfavorable global economic situation. Sheikh Khalifa considered that the changing economic conditions propel companies to seek new markets and develop new line of business to stay competitive. He added that Futurallia Qatar provide local Qatari and Gulf companies with an opportunity to grow their network of foreign partners and develop new strategic alliances. Futurallia Qatar 2009 will be highlighted by two-day of business matchmaking meetings, half day conference highlighting partnership between foreign and GCC companies, international exhibition for trade experts and service providers, and a variety of festive and networking activities. Hosting the 14th edition of the forum in Qatar has a great significance in light of the current economic crisis that has swept across world markets. Nevertheless, the crisis had no significant impact on the level of foreign participants that reached so far more than 500 companies from about 30 countries. The biggest delegations come from France (125 companies); Belgium (45 companies); Algeria (23 companies); United Kingdom (16 companies); Burkina Faso (15 companies); and other delegations from Canada, USA, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Luxemburg, Latvia, Russia, Morocco, Lebanon, Cyprus, Romania, Poland, Palestine, Iran, India, Malaysia, and others. http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20090422/content.asp?section=nation3_1

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