(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
The Qatari Businessmen Association's (QBA) second leg of high-profile European tour resulted in the signing of a slew of agreements between Qatar and Germany.
The QBA top leadership's meeting with German counter parts and top officials also witnessed the announcement of hosting ‘Qatar Business and Investment Forum' during the first quarter of 2018.
QBA delegation was led by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, QBA Chairman; Hussein Al Fardan, First Deputy to the Chairman; and Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, Second Deputy to the Chairman of QBA.
It was also announced that the the Qatari government and private sector will participate in the Green Week Forum, to be held in Berlin in January, with the patricipation of some 80 ministers.
Added to this, an agricultural exhibition, will be held in Doha with the participation of the German Ministry of Agriculture and Nutrition and associated specialised companies. Considering means of localising a number of German industries in Qatar's Free Zones, the German authorities and the German-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have also harnessed their abilities to provide all the needs of the Qatari market.
QBA kicked off its meetings in the German capital of Berlin by meeting with a number of businessmen at Qatar Cultural House, the first cultural house of its kind outside Qatar.
H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will inaugurate the cultural center on November 23, 2017, in the presence of a number of diplomats and German business and culture community among the others.
Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani stressed that Doha and Berlin have more than 60 years of commercial relations and 44 years of diplomatic relations, and hence Qatar has become a significant partner for Germany in the Mena.
Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal stressed that both countries have many cooperation and partnership agreements in the fields of science, education, technical training, research and development, new and renewable technologies, and other fields.
Qatar's ambassador, Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, said that the trade relations between Qatar and Germany have witnessed a great development in recent years. He pointed out that the trade volume between the two countries amounted to about €3bn currently, which makes Germany one of the most important trading partners of Qatar.
He added that the volume of Qatari investments in Germany amounted to about $25bn, indicating that German companies are implementing projects in Qatar worth more than €20bn.
Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani, member of the Board of Directors of the QBA, gave a presentation on Doha's current economic changes and various investment incentives. In the current year's budget, it allocated
QR94bn for major projects. It provided about QR46bn for new projects contracts, about QR8.5bn for projects related to the World Cup in 2022, about QR6bn for educational and health projects and QR25bn for infrastructure projects and transport.
Dr Gerard Spatel, one of the Ambassadors of the EU said that Qatar is one of the most important investors in the EU and major European banks, which makes it the best place to invest, considering that all countries of the Union respect the laws of investment and Qatari investments are welcome in any country belonging to the EU.
'We want to support Qatar in all possible fields, and it is an honor for us to visit the Qatar Businessmen Association, said Peter Blitzer, Federal Minister of State for Agriculture and Nutrition. Germany is a leader in food products and is a food exporter with more than €70bn, and has surpluses in production.
As for food security, he stressed that there is no country comparable to German food industries.
'We are delighted to visit Germany, where we have a lot of investments, and our country needs German expertise in agriculture, said Sheikh Faisal bin Qasim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association. He added: that Qatar relies on milk powder provided it is filled and manufactured in the Qatari factories, and Qatar is ready to import from Germany.As for animal feed, Sheikh Faisal said that Qatari companies are ready to import because of the large quantities of livestock, especially camels and sheep.
Hussein Al Fardan, First Deputy to the Chairman, said that providing food and medical security is a guarantee of basic needs and a tributary to ensure economic stability and hence social stability. He pointed out that all forms of security attain stability, starting from achieving the basic pillar of human development to economic security and stability, social stability and national security.
Sheikh Dr Khalid Bin Thani Al Thani, Second Deputy to the Chairman said that the Qatari economy absorbed most of the negative effects of the political and economic shock of the blockade.
He also pointed out that the implementation of development projects helps fortify the economy, including the establishment of logistical supply areas and food security zones.
This is why the QBA are turning to most countries to find suitable partners associated with continuing to realise the Qatar National Vision 2030. The motivation to implement it now on the ground is more urgent than ever.
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