QBA Ready to Facilitate Entry of Spanish Firms in Qatar

Doha: Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, Second Deputy to the Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association, hosted a Spanish delegation headed by Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain H E Arancha Gonzalez Laya, during a dinner at the Sheikh's Resident in the presence of Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. 

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Thani Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber. From QBA Board members Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani and Saud Al Mana attended the dinner, as well as Abdulbasit Al Shaibie, CEO of Qatar International Islamic Bank, Abdullatif Abdullah Almahmoud, CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group, as well as Sarah Abdulla, QBA Deputy General Manager. 

On the Spanish side, the delegation included Eva Martinez, Director General of the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean Region, Luis Moreno, Director General for Economic Diplomacy, and Monica Prado, Director General for Communication. 

The meeting was attended by H E Belen Alfaro, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Qatar.

At the beginning of the meeting, Arancha Gonzalez, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed a welcome note in which she thanked Sheikh Dr. Khalid for the meeting, and stressed on the importance of the joint business council that was recently launched and established by the Qatari Businessmen Association with the Spanish side CEOE on January 27, 2021, which would contribute to strengthening trade relations and supporting cooperation ties between both countries.

The Qatari side welcomed the Minister and her accompanying delegation, where Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani confirmed that this visit would develop bilateral relations between the two countries, especially days after the announcement of the establishment of the Qatari-Spanish Business Council, as well as the will of the Qatari businessmen to cooperate with their Spanish counterparts through joint investments. 

He also indicated the QBA's readiness to facilitate the entry of Spanish companies into the Qatari market promising investment opportunities in the various sectors.
For her part, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs invited QBA members to visit Spain the soonest possible, to discuss investment projects closely, stressing the economic reforms pursued by her country's government in order to encourage foreign investment and improve the business climate in the Kingdom of Spain.

Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, the Executive President of the Qatari Spanish Business Council, expressed the willingness of Qatari businessmen to visit Spain in order to explore potential partnership opportunities and develop economic relations, to take advantage of the incentives available on both sides. Sheikh Dr. Khalid also talked about the Qatari Businessmen openness to develop their relations with their counterparts around the world, including Spain.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, H E Arancha Gonzalez Laya, with Second Deputy to the Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association, Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani Al Thani.

Sheikh Dr. Khalid also talked about the initiatives offered by Qatar to the investor in addition to Qatar's logistical elements such as free zones, Hamad International Airport, and the Port of Qatar, confirming Qatar's position as a leading investment destination in the region.

At the end of the meeting, Sheikh Faisal and Sheikh Dr. Khalid presented souvenirs to the Minister, hoping that this visit would achieve its objectives in developing economic relations.