Doha: Qatar and Slovenia have witnessed a remarkable development in relations in the recent years. There are great similarities and joint opportunities between the two in many aspects.

Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the Qatar Slovenia Business Meeting, yesterday Matevž Frangež, State Secretary for Internationalization, Entrepreneurship, Development Resources and Tourism, at Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport said, the business meeting proves that both countries have a great potential for mutual collaboration on various fields such as logistics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing.

There are many similarities between the two countries in terms of Qatar Vision 2030 and Slovenia's vision in terms of economic diversity, sustainability, and innovation, which opens up many horizons for cooperation and partnership between the two sides.

Qatar's National Vision 2030, which focuses on diversification and knowledge-based growth, is well aligned with Slovenia's innovation-driven and sustainable economic model.

Qatar and Slovenia are two different countries but have very complementary economies. Frangež said,“We see Qatar as an amazing global economic centre and we would like to invite more Qataris to explore Slovenia, our amazing innovation ecosystem, new industries, but also, of course, all the beauties of green Slovenia and invest in it.”

Slovenia is a great logistics hub in the heart of Europe just like Qatar which sees logistics as one of its growth sectors.

“We are great at innovation specifically in new technologies such as AI, quantum, biotechnology. We are a very welcoming country with very strong tourism and what we see is really a potential of strengthened collaboration,” he added.

Highlighting three very specific opportunities the country offers, Frangež noted that firstly, we would like to create strong investment fund to support the biotech sector in Slovenia.

econdly, we see Maribor International Airport, the second largest city in Slovenia, as a platform for further development of European logistics, as well as technology zones in this part of Europe.

“And thirdly, the investment in our tourism, to welcome more Qatari guests in Slovenia for exploring the beauties of our nature, enjoy the outdoor activities and culinary.”

Slovenia enjoys a developed investment environment, has a strategic location in the heart of Europe, and a diversified economy based on innovation and advanced technology

Replying to a query on the ties between the two countries, Frangež said,“We have very strong political ties and strong collaboration on political level, for example, in defending the rights of Palestinian people, provide a very common ground for strengthening our collaboration in the economic field.”

He added,“I am amazed by Qatar's progress and the determination. The country's Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) 2024-2030 that was presented to us today is very ambitious.” Frangež reiterated,“We see a lot of links, a lot of complementary fields where we can work together.”

He highlighted the strengths of Slovenia and pointed out the talents, skills, knowledge, innovation, creativity, problem-solving ability and innovative thinking of the people.

“We are good at creating ecosystems and in fact, among large companies, the level and quality of collaboration between industry and research and development institutions is the best in Slovenia when comparing to the rest of Europe.”

There is a very ambitious funding of innovation and between 2022 and 2030“we will nearly quadruple the public side of investment in research and innovation,” Frangež further noted.

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