Qatar Chamber Receives German Minister of Economy and Energy, To Enhance Trade Alliances

Qatar Chamber hosted a high-level German trade delegation Wednesday, headed by Katharina Reiche, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. The delegation was received by Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, in the presence of several board members, a group of Qatari businessmen, and German ambassador Oliver Owcza.

During the meeting, the German delegation and Qatari business leaders discussed co-operation relations, the investment climate in both Qatar and Germany, available investment opportunities, and the role of the private sector in promoting bilateral trade.

They also discussed ways to enhance co-operation in key economic sectors such as energy, industry, and information technology. 

Sheikh Khalifa highlighted the strong and friendly relations between both countries, as well as the economic co-operation, which reflects the keenness of both leaderships to advance this partnership to broader horizons. He noted that Germany has long represented a model of excellence in advanced manufacturing and innovation and is one of the fundamental pillars of the global economy.

He emphasised that the Qatar Chamber is proud of the presence of many German companies — known for their high technical expertise and global standards — whether as major partners or as independent entities in numerous large-scale projects in the country. 

Sheikh Khalifa also pointed out that Qatar has emerged as a leading commercial and industrial hub thanks to its strategic __cpLocation, advanced infrastructure, and modern logistical facilities.

He said the volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached QR6.6bn in 2024, noting that the meeting with the German delegation represents a practical step toward a stronger economic future for both nations. He expected that the ongoing dialogue, the exchange of expertise, and the activation of investment partnerships would open new horizons for co-operation. 

Sheikh Khalifa noted that Qatari investments in Germany, which span multiple sectors, are clear evidence of Qatar’s confidence in the German economy. At the same time, the Qatari side values the role of German companies operating in Qatar and their contribution to the development of many productive sectors.

He called on companies from both sides to take advantage of the promising opportunities available in fields such as manufacturing, advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, clean energy, healthcare, sports, education, and many other sectors.

Katharina affirmed that Qatar is a major and highly important partner for Germany, noting that 110 German companies had expressed a desire to join the delegation to Qatar, as all of them are interested in establishing partnerships and alliances with Qatari companies. 

She said 20 leading companies representing various sectors accompanied her on this visit and are eager to develop strategic alliances with their Qatari counterparts. She highlighted that the volume of trade between the two countries, particularly Qatar’s exports of raw materials and petrochemicals to Germany, reflects the strength of the bilateral partnership.

She added that the growth of Germany’s GDP, along with the strong performance of the Qatari economy, which is expected to achieve 5% growth in the coming years, presents significant opportunities for expanding cooperation between the two nations.

The German Minister also noted that around 100 German companies are currently exploring opportunities related to digital transformation in Qatar and are ready to participate actively in this sector. During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their strong desire to expand co-operation and establish commercial partnerships across various sectors, especially in energy, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, carbon emissions reduction, satellites, space technology, and aviation.