The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority, one of the world's leading and fastest growing onshore business and financial centres, officially welcomed the Bangladesh Forum Qatar (BFQ) as a registered business council on the QFC platform.

Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer of the QFC Authority shared the official QFC licence of the business council to Iftekhar Ahmad, President of the BFQ during the opening ceremony of the Seminar on Foreign Direct Investment in Bangladesh, held in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Doha. Other notable attendees included H.E. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. Md. Shariar Alam, as well as H.E. Ambassador For Bangladesh to Qatar Mr. Ashud Ahmed.

The BFQ is a non-profit business council founded by Bangladeshi professionals in Doha aimed at promoting the continued growth and development of trade and investment between Qatar and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Forum Qatar joins other business councils from around the world already registered and licensed by the QFC including the Canadian, Singaporean, Portuguese, and Spanish business councils, as well as many others.

Yousuf Mohammed Al Jaida, Chief Executive Officer, QFC Authority 

"The Qatar Financial Centre welcomes the Bangladesh Forum Qatar to our platform. We are confident that this is a great step that will help the continued development of long and fruitful relations between Bangladesh and Qatar."

Al-Jaida added: "The QFC is looking towards developing existing partnerships in important markets such as Bangladesh and today marks a significant stride taken towards the growth of this important partnership. As a business council, the Bangladesh Forum Qatar will surely play a key role in facilitating bilateral investment between Qatar and Bangladesh."

Iftekhar Ahmad, President of the Bangladesh Forum Qatar

"This is an initiative of Bangladesh Forum Qatar, a professional think tank consisting of Bangladeshi expats working and doing business in Qatar with a view to promote trade and investment between both the countries and help integrate Bangladeshis into Qatari society."

H.E. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. Md. Shariar Alam 

said: "Bangladesh is a country of huge potential. With a population of 165 million and a mobile penetration of 85%, Bangladesh has many things to offer to a country such as Qatar, which has one of largest sovereign funds in the world, as well as many other private funds."

The QFC is an onshore jurisdiction, allowing companies to operate in and from Qatar within the QFC legal and tax environment. The QFC endeavours to promote Qatar as an attractive business destination. Companies that wish to establish a business in the QFC are guided throughout by a dedicated QFC relationship manager who assists in the process of obtaining a license and offers support in matters related to operating a business in Qatar. QFC firms enjoy competitive benefits, such as working within a legal environment based on English common law, the right to trade in any currency, up to 100% foreign ownership, 100% repatriation of profits, 10% corporate tax on locally sourced profits, and an extensive double tax treaty agreement network with 60+ countries. In addition, the independent Employment Standards Office of the QFC embodies a unique Administrative Employment Dispute Resolution Centre accredited by the International Labour Organization (ILO), providing conciliation and adjudication services free of charge to help resolve workplace conflicts. The ESO is fully aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and aspires to promote international best practices in the field of human capital.