DOHA: The total trade exchange between the two countries reached about $3bn in 2015, accounting for 2.8 percent of Qatar’s foreign trade said Minister of Economy and Commerce, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani yesterday at the Qatar-Italy joint committee meeting.
The fourth session of Qatar- Italy joint committee for economic cooperation was held yesterday and chaired by Sheikh Ahmed and Italy’s Minister for Economic Development Federica Guidi.
The Minister described Italy as a strategic partner of Qatar and said that the total number of joint ventures operating in Qatar exceeded 200 companies. He stressed the close relations between Qatar and Italy, which received further boost after the historic visit of Emir
H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Italy this year.
The Minister noted that the relations between the two countries were further enhanced after Qatar’s successful participation in the Expo Milan 2015, during which Qatar Pavilion organised several important events that contributed significantly to the consolidation of relations in various fields, especially economic and investment fields.
Sheikh Ahmed said the meeting which he had held with Italian businessmen and investors on the sidelines of the Milan Expo and focused on the opportunities available for investment in Qatar. He said Italy is a favourable destination for Qatari investments in various economic sectors and activities, adding that this embodied the keenness of Qatar on dedicating part of its resources for investment in strategic economies, where there are promising investment opportunities.