Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce
Qatar aspires to achieve further economic cooperation with Germany, HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani said, stressing the depth of ties and mutual cooperation between the two countries, which reflected on the rise in trade volume between them.
HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim made the remarks during a meeting on Thursday between Qatari businessmen and their German counterparts from the state of Lower Saxony in the presence of the state’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil.
The minister of economy and commerce said the two countries have several agreements and memorandums of understanding that aim at consolidating relations and setting up strong economic and business partnerships between them, with Germany being Qatar’s fifth biggest trading partner in terms of imports, noting that their trade exchange amounts to $2.1 billion in 2013.
The minister pointed to the visit of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Germany last year, saying that it represented an opportunity to support and develop relations by establishing the Qatari-German Economic Forum, which was held on the sidelines of HH the Emir’s visit.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim added that the current visit of the German delegation adds to this forum and activates its outcomes, noting that he is looking forward to further cooperation and building a foundation for sustainable partnership in various fields.
Qatar is one of the main centers of German investments in the region, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim said, noting that 27 companies fully-owned by Germany operate in Qatar in addition to 112 others with mixed ownership working in the sectors of railways, construction, trade, services, communications, roads, infrastructure, medical equipment and others.
The minister highlighted Qatar’s contribution to the German economy as Qatari institutions owning shares in some German major companies such as Volkswagen and Siemens in addition to several projects and investment portfolios in real estate and liquefied natural gas, adding that these are indicators on the future and size of economic and trade cooperation between business and private sectors in the two countries.
Qatar seeks to build a strong economic base by a deliberate policy of diversification through which it managed several accomplishments in a short period, HE the minister of economy and commerce said.
He added that the non-oil sector continues to stimulate Qatari economy where its share in GDP was 50.7 percent in the third quarter of 2014, expecting it continue to grow in the next years.
HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim said Qatar is moving steadily in strengthening the role of the private sector in the different activities and improving its skills and technologies, so it relies on such visits and meetings to open horizons and areas of cooperation to serve the mutual interests and goals for businessmen and companies in both countries.
He stressed that Qatar is keen on closer cooperation with Germany and long-term investments in order to promote trade relations between the two countries and build sustainable partnerships.
The minister expressed hope that the visit of German businessmen will be an opportunity to discuss with their Qatari counterparts further cooperation and partnerships.
Earlier today, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim met Weil, with the two sides discussing relations between the two countries and ways of developing them in economic and trade fields in addition to issues of mutual interest.
Addressing at the businessmen meeting today, Weil said that the purpose of his visit is to consolidate economic relations between Qatar and Germany, particularly with the state of Lower Saxony, and to launch new relationships.
