Washington /Information Office / 29 April 2015/ HE Qatar's Ambassador to the United States of America Mohammed bin Jaham Al Kuwari highlighted the importance of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's official visit to the United States last February which contributed to further developing the relations between the two countries. Addressing a luncheon banquet hosted in honor of representatives of 15 American companies operating in Qatar, HE the Qatari Ambassador reviewed Qatar's economic policy. HE the Ambassador said that Qatar will continue its current pace of spending on major capital projects in the areas of health, infrastructure and railway projects and the 2022 World Cup. He pointed to the financial measures taken by Qatar to increase the reserves of Qatar Central Bank as an investment capital along with the Qatar Investment Authority, stressing Qatar's quest to provide self-protection to cope with fluctuations in energy prices in the global markets. HE Ambassador Mohammed bin Jaham Al Kuwari revealed the Qatar Investment Authority's plans to open an office in New York in order to manage the growing investment portfolio in the US market. He stressed Qatar's mutual confidence and trust in its relations with the United States, whether in the business side, or on the defensive level, pointing out to the strong and developing relations with the American companies. The Ambassador underlined Qatar's keenness to invest in education. He said that Qatar is seeking to be a hub for science and culture in the entire region, noting the support for America's best educational and scientific institutions located in Qatar to reach this goal. Speaking about the GCC and Middle East security, HE the Qatari Ambassador reviewed the "Arab Spring" revolutions and the situation in Yemen and Syria. He underlined that Arab peoples will determine their future. HE the Ambassador reviewed the relations between the State of Qatar and the United States, particularly at the level of defense cooperation, pointing to the importance of the United States' commitment to GCC security, and noted that Qatar is working to raise the level of its defense capabilities.