(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Agencies
Washington: Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said yesterday the blockade was having a minimal impact on Qatar's exports. Shipments of LNG, oil, petrochemicals and other commodities continue uninterrupted as exports to Japan, India, South Korea and China, which account for nearly three-quarters of Qatars export volume, are all countries unaffected by the blockade.
Imports via Hamad Port, one of the largest deep-water ports in the region, and via Hamad International Airport, have not been affected, the Minister said while speaking about the importance of the US-Qatar economic partnership at a meeting with the US Chamber of Commerce. In another event, delivering speech at the Arab Center in Washington DC, the Minister said Qatar had a good record of combating and countering terrorism and Qatar had taken steps against funds going to terrorist organisations.
"The US can verify that Qatar has not supported terrorism. Qatar's response has been measured but unequivocal," the Foreign Minister said.
He added siege is a violation of international law and against sovereignty and the demands are efforts to undermine Qatar's sovereignty. The GCC is supposed to provide safety and stability in the region. Al Jazeera's professionalism will not be compromised.
Talking to the reporters in Washington he said Qatar was working with the United States and Kuwait to respond to a list of demands presented by Arab states.
"Regarding the ten days deadline, we are working together with the Americans and the Kuwaitis in order to prepare the proper (responses) ... to the list which has been submitted to us," the Minister told reporters. "The negotiation should be under the right conditions. We have to set the conditions first in order to pursue these negotiations. CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, and Emir Advisor on Investment Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al Thani also attended the meeting with the US Chamber of Commerce.
Addressing the US Chamber of Commerce, the Foreign Minister reassured the invited guests that the fundamentals of the Qatari economy are strong and resilient. Qatari banks are well capitalised and have sufficient liquidity and Qatar's international investment portfolio is well diversified.
Qatar's credit rating remains among the top 25 in the world, the Foreign Minister observed, even after recent adjustments.
"Our global investments have resulted in strong economic growth and have produced jobs in the US and across Europe, as well as solid returns for Qatar," he told the Chamber. "Thats a clear win-win for Qatar and its international partners," he said.
"You can be sure that Qatar will continue to strengthen and promote our business and commercial relationship with the United States. Our bilateral trade with the US has increased by more than 32 percent since 2012 and we expect to see further increases in the coming years."
Sheikh Abdulla Al-Thani provided an update to the business leaders on the $35bn investment in the US over five years pledged in 2015. "We've already invested $26bn," he said, "and we are looking to invest $10bn more in the US infrastructure sector."
He also discussed plans to open a QIA office in San Francisco in addition to the one in New York, signifying that these expansions are a sign of strengthening the Qatar-US relations.
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