ASEAN Ambassadors in Doha together with Mr. Joseph Abraham, CEO of Commercial Bank Group, join hands the ASEAN way. Photo credits to Peninsula Qatar

27 November 2017 DOHA — The ASEAN Committee in Doha (ACD), under the Chairmanship of Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum, hosted the ASEAN Seminar & Opening Ceremony of ASEAN Food Festival at Shangri-La Hotel Doha on November 20 in celebration of ASEAN’s 50th founding anniversary. 

During the Seminar, the ACD Chair and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand expressed his appreciation to the host government, the ACD, and to all the guests who joined this momentous gathering for ASEAN.  He added that “it is especially more relevant today, in light of the current situation that Qatar is now trying to diversify and encourage more trade and investment with countries in Southeast Asia, and to build up strong ties with Asean, as reflected by the recent visit of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia last month,”  He also announced the series of activities being hosted by ACD in celebration of ASEAN’s 50th founding anniversary such as the Food Festival, and the upcoming launch of ASEAN food products at Lulu Hypermarket in Al-Messila Branch on November 22.

Commercial Bank Group CEO Joseph Abraham delivered his keynote remarks during the Seminar titled “Qatar and ASEAN – Trade and Investment Opportunities.” Mr. Abraham said that the current blockade on Qatar has opened up opportunities between Qatar and other countries such as ASEAN. He stated that “the development of shipping and logistic lines in Qatar will witness further easing of movements of goods and will provide opportunities for more joint ventures in the long term.” 

The top CBQ official also emphasized that with Qatar’s investment diversification towards Southeast Asia and Asia, ASEAN should be able to leverage complementarities with Qatar so that both look towards a long-term partnership with each other. He cited recent investments diversified by Qatar Investments Authority (QIA) to Singapore, where it bought the Asia Square towers for $2.5 billion; and on Nebras Power in Indonesia with US$1billion powerplant investment, as a result of the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Indonesia.  He said ASEAN investments in a fraction of QIA’s total portfolio of $320billion.

Philippine Ambassador to the State of Qatar Alan L. Timbayan also made a brief presentation on the key outcomes of the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held in Manila on November 13 to 14. Ambassador Timbayan echoed the report made by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on the landmark outcomes of the recently concluded Summit such as the signing of a Consensus on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and a start of talks for a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

During the Q&A, Singapore Ambassador Jai Sohan Singh said that “the idea and objective behind the seminar and food festivals is to raise awareness in Qatar of what's available in ASEAN region. Hopefully, the two food festivals go off well."

After the seminar, the celebration was followed by the Opening of the Food Festival at Sridan Restaurant. Guests were entertained by cultural performances from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Brunei. The Food Festival at Sridan Restaurant will run from November 21 until 30. 

The ASEAN Seminar and Opening Night of the Food Festival was attended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhroo, Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Private Schools Affairs Department Director Rawda Safwan Zeedan, other dignitaries, and diplomats from other embassies.

MFA Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhroo (center), Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Private Schools Affairs Department Director Rawda Safwan Zeedan, ACD Ambassadors, other dignitaries, and diplomats from other embassies at the opening of the ASEAN Food Festival, Sridan Restaurant, November 22. Photo credits to Qatar Tribune

The Banyuhay Dance Troupe and a fashion show of national costumes of Brunei entertained the guests during the opening program of the Food Festival. Photo credits to Mr. Ashraf Siddiqui of Asian Telegraph Qatar