ICC Qatar Keen on Promoting Qatar's Private Sector Interests in International Forums

Doha, April 23 (QNA) - Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Qatar) HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, who is also Chairman of Qatar Chamber and Executive Board Member of ICC International Secretariat said Sunday that ICC Qatar was keen on promoting interests of the Qatari private sector in international forums such as G-20 and in the United Nations. In a statement released today from Qatar Chamber, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani gave a speech during the third board meeting of ICC Qatar. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency and took place at the headquarters of Qatar Chamber. It reviewed the initiatives and achievements made by ICC Qatar in the last few years, in addition to the future tasks and plans. His Excellency stressed that ICC Qatar has made significant achievements since it has been established. It has been strongly participating it the ICC global forums and conferences. HE the Chairman of ICC Qatar announced the establishment of two additional commissions later this year, they are the Digital Economy Commission and Trade and Investment Policy Commission. For his part, ICC Qatar Secretary General Remy Rowhani discussed the events and conferences held last year by the chamber through its Banking, Arbitration and ADR and Energy, and Environment commissions. He pointed out to the two editions of the SMEs Conference, which highlighted the Turkish and German experiences in developing these enterprises. The next edition will be held in the early 2018. The meeting also included a presentation by International Chamber of Commerce's COO Philip Kucharski on the ICC establishment, update, tasks and activities. Chief Operating Officer of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Secretariat, Philip Kucharski said, the most important development of the International Chamber of Commerce, was achieving the Observer Status at the United Nations (UN), which gives it a direct voice in the UN system and to contribute directly to the work of the UN General Assembly. Kucharski congratulated HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani on the ICC Merchant of Peace award which is the highest award, honoring His Excellency for his recent work, especially that of the World Trade Agenda initiative. Kucharski added ICC Qatar has proven itself in the ICC activities, and is one of the most active members in the chamber. Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) recently concluded the Arbitration in Banking and Financial Disputes Program which was aimed to provide information on banking progress, role of banks in financing projects and issuance of letter of guarantee. It also highlighted how to solve disputes of banking, credit and commercial papers operations. The program highlighted a number of topics on arbitrating financial and banking issues such as banking disputes under the Qatari law and its features and the priority of arbitrating in such disputes. The program also discussed the extension of arbitration in banking operations, its problems and the cautions of banking arbitrations in Qatar. The program also presented a mock trial as an example for one of the banking disputes. The attendees expressed the importance of the program to the banking and financial sectors, since it provided a comprehensive introduction to the rules of arbitration in documentary credits, letters of guarantee and checks. Arbitrating banking disputes helps with implementing project as per schedule, since all projects depend on bank loans, the attendees added. ICC Qatar thanked its partners for cooperating in the events, including Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) which aims to spread awareness of trade arbitration, best practices and latest developments of the Qatar arbitration Law no.2 of 2017 which was issued by the national legislator, promulgating the law of arbitration in civil and commercial matters. The QICCA signed a sponsorship agreement with QIB last month where the bank will sponsor QICCA's training program of Qatar's New Arbitration Law. (QNA)