QBA Seeks To Enhance Trade Ties With Turkish Delegation

The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) received a high-level business delegation from Turkey on Monday, headed by Abdullah Altunkum, chairman of the Turkish–Qatari Business Council at Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK), in the presence of Ambassador of Turkey to Qatar HE Dr Mustafa Goksu.

The Turkish delegation was welcomed by Qatari Businessmen Association Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani in the presence of QBA members Salah Al Jaidah, Nabil Abu Issa, Maqbool Khalfan, Hakan Ozdemir, and Ihsan Alkhiyami. The meeting was also attended by QBA General Manager Sarah Abdallah along with several representatives from leading Qatari and Turkish companies.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation, enhancing private-sector partnerships, and exploring new opportunities for joint ventures between companies from both countries across various strategic sectors. At the outset of the meeting, Sheikh Faisal highlighted the deep-rooted and steadily growing relations between Qatar and Turkey, noting that ties between the two nations have witnessed remarkable development in recent years across multiple sectors, particularly in trade and economic cooperation.

He emphasized that the strong bilateral relationship is founded on the close ties and mutual understanding shared by the leaderships of both countries, which have resulted in numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at boosting economic collaboration and strategic partnerships.

Sheikh Faisal further noted that the visit carried special significance as it marked the first visit by a trade delegation since last March, particularly amid the current regional circumstances. He reaffirmed the eagerness of Qatari businessmen to deepen cooperation with their Turkish counterparts and establish effective partnerships and commercial alliances that would contribute to mutual economic growth.

Speaking during the meeting, Turkish envoy stated that the visit reflected the depth of the strategic partnership between the two friendly countries and underscored the strong cooperation existing between their respective business communities.

The ambassador noted that the Turkish-Qatari Business Council and other bilateral committees have played an important role in strengthening relations through diverse initiatives, coordinated policies, and sustained engagement across numerous economic and commercial sectors.

“We have witnessed remarkable progress in trade and investment, as both countries have become key partners in each other’s economic landscape, with bilateral trade volume multiplying several times over in recent years,” Goksu stated.

He encouraged Qatari investors to continue expanding their investments in the Turkish market, emphasizing that Turkey offers a secure and dynamic investment climate with significant opportunities across multiple sectors. The ambassador also stressed the importance of enhanced coordination and cooperation to jointly explore emerging markets and investment destinations.

From his side, Abdullah Altunkum, chairman of the Turkish-Qatari Business Council at Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK), explained that the Council serves as a strategic bilateral platform dedicated to strengthening economic ties and increasing trade exchange between Qatar and Turkey.

He stated that the Council focuses particularly on facilitating investments and fostering partnerships between private-sector entities in vital sectors such as energy, construction, and technology.

Altunkum invited members of the Qatari Businessmen Association to visit Turkey to explore promising investment opportunities, especially in infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, and advanced technology sectors. He also encouraged Qatari companies to consider establishing joint ventures aimed at targeting regional markets including the GCC countries, Syria, and various African markets, where substantial growth and investment opportunities currently exist.

In the same context, QBA member Salah Al Jaidah affirmed that Turkey has become a preferred investment destination for Qatari investors and noted that Qatar ranks among the leading foreign investors in Turkey.

He pointed out that Qatari investments in Turkey extend beyond government-level projects and encompass strong private-sector participation in tourism, retail, financial services, and other key industries.

Al Jaidah further highlighted the significant presence of Turkish companies in the Qatari market, noting that hundreds of Turkish firms currently operate across sectors such as trade, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, services, and hospitality.

He added that these companies include both wholly Turkish-owned enterprises and joint ventures established in partnership with Qatari firms.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing optimism regarding the future of Qatari-Turkish economic relations and reaffirming their commitment to expanding commercial cooperation, encouraging reciprocal investments, and strengthening private-sector engagement in support of sustainable economic development in both countries.