The Middle East Association is delighted to be hosting Mr John Hawkins, HM Ambassador to Qatar, for a VIP Lunch to be held at Bury House on 8 July 2010.

Mr John Hawkins has been HM Ambassador to Qatar since August. He has had a distinguished diplomatic career, serving as Consul General at the British Embassy in Dubai from 2004-2008. He has also worked in Spain, South Africa and India. In London he served as the International Director of the UK’s Inward Investment Promotion Agency as well as in the Foreign Office’s Middle East Department, spending two years as one of the FCO’s press spokesmen covering Middle East issues.

Qatar is one of the world’s richest and fastest-growing economies as a result of its vast gas reserves (14% of world’s proven resources, third only to Russia and Iran). Qatar is the world’s leading supplier of liquid natural gas (LNG) and is set to become the world’s largest exporter of Gas to Liquids (GTL). The proceeds from Qatar’s natural resources are funding major infrastructure and economic diversification projects. Key sectors include financial services (numerous international financial companies have set up in the Qatar Financial Centre), healthcare, tourism and education. The government is committed to further diversification and to building a knowledge-driven economy.