FIFA World Cup 2022 'Can Leave a Powerful Legacy'

Doha, June 06 (QNA) - Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022 can be a spring board to build capacity, spur economic activity and leave a much powerful legacy, an official from the US Department of Commerce said here Monday.
US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance within the International Trade Administration Michael C Camunez, who is leading a US delegation on a three-day visit here, commended Qatar for the winning the bid to host FIFA 2022 World Cup.
"I congratulate and commend your team for winning the bid," Camunez told Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi during a meeting with him along with his delegation here at the Qatar Olympic Committee towers today.
Camunez held talks with Al Thawadi along with their respective delegations on various topics in general and sports infrastructure development in particular.
The Assistant Secretary and his delegation is visiting to further US President Barack Obama and his Administration's commitment to commercial engagement with this region. He arrived here yesterday after visiting Saudi Arabia and is scheduled to travel to the UAE on conclusion of this visit Tuesday.
Camunez, who served as the Senior Policy Advisor for national service in the Bill Clinton administration, reiterated US government's serious efforts towards further bilateral, business and trade ties with Qatar.
Hailing US ties with Qatar, Camunez told Al Thawadi and the Qatari delegation present at the meeting, "The US has had a long-standing relationship with Qatar and this visit under the National Export Initiative is to "deepen the strategic relationship with Qatar".
Speaking on the significance of Qatar hosting FIFA World Cup 2022, Camunez said, "More than a billion people will be watching the tournament which would showcase Qatar to the world just like the Beijing Olympics opened the world's eyes to China's transformation."
World Cup 2022 brings together a lot of our shared goals and we want to be you at every step of the way with the economic transformation that is going on in Qatar, he said. (QNA)