Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatari companies have succeeded in strengthening international relations between Qatar and other countries by adopting economic diplomacy and employing different nationalities regardless of their cultures and religions, said Ashraf Abu Issa, chairman of the Board of Directors of Abu Issa Holding.
Speaking at a lecture organised by the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) as part of the training plan launched by the Katara Public Diplomacy Center for the month of January, he said Abu Issa Holding Company currently has more than 60 different nationalities and had employed staff from 93 different nationalities from all over the world in the previous years.
Abu Issa stressed the importance of economic diplomacy by local companies and institutions by adopting a set of criteria, providing a safe and secure environment for workers to motivate them towards productivity, progress and development.
He said the success of Qatari companies abroad enhances bilateral international economic relations, adding that Qatari companies abroad are required to reflect the political, economic and social stability enjoyed by Qatar, a high degree of safety and transparency, and an economy openness to the world.
Abu Issa stressed the importance of economic diplomacy in strengthening bilateral economic relations and attracting foreign investments.
The lecturer defined the concept of economic diplomacy as the mutual dependence between several international players, which positively affects their political cooperation and reduces differences within the group, as well as reducing the possibility of any of its members joining a third party from outside.
For his part, Engineer Darwish Ahmed Al Shaibani, CEO of the Katara Public Diplomacy Center, said: "Economic diplomacy employs the soft power of the economy in building ties of communication between different countries, which contributes to increasing investment attraction and provides more job opportunities for young people.”
Shaibani, who is also the secretary-General of the International Public Diplomacy Network, referred to the pivotal role played by Qatar Airways in the field of economic diplomacy by linking Qatar to many countries across the world through Hamad International Airport and its advanced infrastructure, transporting millions of travellers around the world.
The lecture was also attended by Ambassador Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, secretary-general of the Qatar Red Crescent, ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, businessmen, academics and media representatives.