Praise for McGrigors' continued expansion in Middle East
Scotland's First Minister, Mr Alex Salmond, today officially opened a new business base for the Scottish law firm McGrigors in the Qatari capital, Doha.
On the first full day of his five-day visit to Qatar and the UAE, Mr Salmond said:
"By establishing a new base in this part of the Middle East, McGrigors are recognising this is an exciting time for business in this region. From its headquarters in the impressive Tornado Tower in the centre of Doha's financial district, it will play a leading part in supporting the energy, infrastructure and professional and financial services which are at the heart of the vision for this 21st Century nation.
"Law firms, like all businesses, have had to grapple with the challenging environment following the credit crunch and the ensuing recession. The opening of this office by McGrigor's is a demonstration of their commitment to the long-term future of growing business in the region."
James Elwen, a Partner and Head of McGrigors Qatar office, said that he is excited about the chance to encourage greater commercial links between Scotland and Qatar.
He said:
"We are delighted to be welcoming Mr Salmond to our new Doha office. This is a fantastic opportunity to discuss how Scottish and Qatari businesses can work together for the mutual benefit of both countries. There is a huge amount of knowledge experience to talk about. Both countries have a proud tradition of excellence in the energy sector and I am certain that we can learn from each other in this and many other respects."
The First Minister is visiting the region to develop business and trade links.
During the visit, the First Minister will also be taking part in high-level talks hosted by McGrigors and Scottish Development International to discuss Scotland's experiences of transitioning from a hydrocarbon-based economy to a knowledge-based society.
The discussion will invite views on how Scotland's experiences in embracing the green economy can be applied to Qatar and the wider region. Members of the Doha business community will be invited to discuss the advantages of sharing of skills, expertise and research between the two nations.
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McGrigors was granted a licence to establish a branch office in Doha, Qatar, by the Qatar Financial Centre Authority earlier this year.
The firm already carries out a significant amount of work in the region on energy matters, and derived a significant percentage of its turnover in 2009-10 from the Middle East region.
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Contact
For further information please contact:
For media enquiries (Middle East):
Marcus Pepperell/Vadia Rai @ FTI Consulting
marcus.peppperell@fticonsulting.com
vadia.rai@fticonsulting.com
Tel: +971 (0)4 332 8832
For Scottish Development International in Middle East:
Colin Crabbe
colin.Crabbe@scotent.co.uk
© Press Release 2011
