Tribune News Network
Doha
Under the patronage of Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani,Chairman of Qatar Chamber Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, inaugurated the “Qatar Trade and Treasury Transformation Summit 2025” on Wednesday in the presence ofMohammed bin Hassan Al Malki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with a large gathering of business owners, experts, speakers, and participants from around the world.
Held for the first time in Qatar, the summit discussed the modern trends and views in trade and treasury sector,digital transformation in banking operations and its role in enhancing corporate treasury capabilities through innovative and intelligent cash and payment solutions. The event aimed to foster innovation and accelerate digital development in Qatar.
Speaking at the inaugural session,Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber and the International Chamber of Commerce Qatar, affirmed that the summit reflects the State of Qatar’s commitment to investing in a knowledge-based economy. This commitment, he noted, is in line with the wise directives of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and is being pursued through a strategic plan rooted in innovation, efficiency, and flexibility placing Qatar at the forefront among leading nations in this field.
He expressed his confidence that the summit would serve as a platform for open dialogue and frank discussions on the future of trade and finance that go beyond theory and go deeper into implementation for the benefit of institutions and communities alike.
He also affirmed the Qatar Chamber’s and ICCQatar’s conviction that the private sector is the best qualified to set global business standards that foster innovation and drive development in the financial and commercial sectors.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim noted that the summit’s working sessions address key areas such as the digitization of trade finance, treasury transformation, cross-border payments, and the key role of artificial intelligence in enhancing the capabilities of treasury professionals in both large and small companies, along with other factors that foster a culture of financial planning and sound institutional investment.
For his part,Mohammed bin Hassan Al Malki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, stated that the summit serves as a strategic platform for exchanging expertise and discussing the future of business and digital transformation in the finance sector and smart commerce. He emphasized that it also provides an opportunity to explore the best practices and adopt innovative solutions that contribute to building a sustainable future.
He emphasized that, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, the State of Qatar places great importance on building a flexible and integrated commercial, industrial, and financial system based on the highest standards of innovation, supported by advanced digital infrastructure and balanced, stable economic policies.
Al Malki also noted that over the past years, Qatar has actively invested in developing its technological infrastructure to embrace emerging technologies, keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and attract more investment in this field.
“Technological transformation and innovation lie at the heart of the country’s national strategies, serving as key pillars in the restructuring of the national economy and the transition toward a digital, efficient, and sustainable future,” He added.
He stressed the pivotal role of the private sector in supporting the economic, industrial, and commercial system by focusing on innovation and keeping pace with the technological revolution. He added: “We look forward to the constructive discussions during this summit, which we believe will foster fruitful partnerships and drive sustainable transformation in trade and treasury—ultimately enhancing our global competitiveness and advancing our sustainable development goals.”
Digital transformation
Titled “Qatar’s Growing Firepower as a Trading Nation,” the summit’s first panel explored how recent geopolitical shifts are impacting Qatar’s key trade relationships.
The panel was moderated by Sohail Rahman, News Correspondent, Journalist, and International News Anchor at Al Jazeera. Speakers included Mohammad Al Obaidly, Board Member of Qatar Chamber; Mubarak Al Sulaiti, Founder and Chairman of Al Sulaiti Law Firm; Ashraf AbuIssa, Chairman of AbuIssa Holding; and Fahad Badar, Executive General Manager and Chief Wholesale and International Banking Officer at Commercial Bank Qatar.
In his remarks , Mohammed Al Obaidli emphasised that integrating digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and financial and banking systems plays a vital role in laying a solid foundation for bold investments and global partnerships. He highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in enhancing Qatar’s trade competitiveness.
He stressed that Qatar has solidified its position as a leading global trade hub and boosted its economic impact as a key partner in international trade and investment, highlighting that this was achieved through various mechanisms, including legislative and regulatory reforms, energy diversification and sustainability, and the development of advanced infrastructure and logistics.
For his part, Ashraf Abu Issa emphasised the importance of fostering economic and trade cooperation with countries in the region, particularly the GCC. He also highlighted the need to explore new global markets considering current economic challenges and to capitalise on the significant progress Qatar has achieved in sectors such as communications, media, tourism, industry, and others.
Mubarak Al Sulaiti discussed the legal and legislative environment for business in Qatar, emphasising that laws and regulations are integral to trade and economic activity. He highlighted the importance of organising the Qatar Trade and Treasury Transformation Summit as a platform to present ideas and visions in light of global economic developments.
In turn, Fahad Badar highlighted Commercial Bank Qatar’s efforts in the fintech sector, particularly its commitment to developing and implementing innovative financial solutions in alignment with the Qatar Fintech Strategy 2023 launched by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB).
Tackling fraud
The session titled ‘Tackling Money Laundering, Sanctions, and Fraud’ was moderated by Kseniia Neboga, Director at Ernst & Young. It featured H.E. Dr. Sheikh Thani Al Thani, Member of the Board of Directors for International Relations at the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration, Claudia Al Hage, Managing Partner at Rashed R. Al Marri Law Office, and Dhritimaan Shukla, Partner at Ernst & Young.
Discussions focused on legal mechanisms to combat money laundering and the significant importance that Qatari legislators place on addressing financial crimes, emphasizing the country’s commitment to leveraging technological advancements in this area.
In his remarks, Dr. Sheikh Thani Al Thani reviewed the key legal mechanisms regulating anti-money laundering efforts in Qatar, specifically referring to Law No. 20 of 2019. He also outlined the restrictions and obligations placed on professionals, including lawyers, in the country’s fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
Trade finance
The session titled ‘The Future of Trade Finance: Reaping the Rewards of Digital Transformation’ wasmoderated by Carlos Teixeira, Global Head of Business Strategy and Lending at Finastra. Speakers included Alaa Al Rousan, Head of MENA at SWIFT, Hussam AlKokhon, Head of Trade Finance at CQUR Bank, Venkata Surya Prasad Indraganti, Head of Transaction Banking at Commercial Bank Qatar, Clyde Rosanowski, Senior Vice President of Corporate Solutions and Head of EEMEA at Mastercard, and Bojan Čekrlić, CEO of CargoX.
Treasury transformation
Moderated by George Tataru, Lead Solutions Consultant, Global Sales at Finastra, this session was titled “Treasury Transformation – Moving from Theory to Reality”. It featured a distinguished group of speakers, including Derek Kwok, Chief Treasury and International Banking Officer at Ahli Bank; Tahir Pirzada, General Manager/Group Treasurer and Financial Institutions at Al Rayan Bank; Dr. Fawad Ishaq, Chief Treasury and Investments Officer at Doha Bank; Dr. Ghada M. Darwish Karbon, Founder and Managing Partner of Dr. Ghada M. Darwish Karbon Law Firm; and Dr. Alanoud Al-Maadid, Head of the Economics and Finance Department at Qatar University. The session explored the transition of treasury transformation from theory to practical implementation, focusing on challenges and solutions in modernizing treasury functions within financial institutions.
In her remarks, Dr. Alanoud Al-Maadid reviewed several research studies related to the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, highlighting the legal framework and the interaction with AI and FinTech that can streamline procedures and support sound decision-making.
For his part, Tahir Pirzada discussed liquidity management and the role of technology in enabling predictive analytics to enhance overall liquidity performance, emphasizing the need for institutions to modernise their systems and integrate innovative solutions.
Derek Kwok addressed the legislative challenges associated with risk management, underscoring the importance of organizational alignment during the digital transformation journey.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ghada Darwish Karbon emphasised that trade and treasury transformation is fundamentally tied to legal and legislative development, pointing out that the main challenge lies in ensuring that existing laws and regulations keep pace with advancements in the sector. She also shed light on several legal frameworks and reforms recently enacted.
Women power
The fifth session, titled “Empowering Women - Trade and Treasury in the MENA Region”, focused on the growing role of women in shaping the financial and commercial landscape across the region.
Moderated by Eleanor Hill, Content Manager at MERGE, the panel featured distinguished female leaders including Dr. Bothaina Al-Ansari, Chairman Advisor at Just Real Estate; Mashael Mohammed Al Sulaiti, Founder and Chairwoman of Mashael Al Sulaiti Law Firm; Maha Al Saadi, Head of Regulatory Affairs at the Qatar Financial Centre; and Fatenah Al Danab, Head of Trade and Working Capital at Barclays Bank.
Discussions highlighted the importance of women’s leadership in trade, treasury, and cross-border payments, and emphasised the need for policies and initiatives that promote gender inclusion and support women’s participation in financial decision-making and innovation.
Workflow solutions
The sixth session, “Optimizing Islamic Factoring Operations: Modern Workflow Solutions”, and the seventh session, “Cross-Border Payments: From Instant Payments and Blockchain Payments to Embedded FX”, explored advancements in financial technologies and infrastructure that are transforming payment systems and trade finance in the region.
