Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi (centre), Director-General, Qatar Chamber exchanging memento with Shigeru Endo (left), special envoy of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for EXPO 2025.
DOHA: Qatar Chamber director-general Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi met on Tuesday with a Japanese delegation led by the special envoy of the Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for EXPO 2025 Shigeru Endo, in the presence of the private sector special envoy Masaki Iwakura and consultant of the Japanese embassy to Qatar Daisuke Yamamoto.
The meeting reviewed mechanisms of enhancing cooperation relations between the private sector in both countries. The delegation informed the chamber on the Japanese ongoing preparations in Osaka which competes to host the expo.
For his part, Shigeru Endo said that Japan hopes that Qatar extends support for Osaka’s bid to host this global exposition.
He said Japan is competing with three other cities for the bid to organise the 2025 World Expo: Yekaterinburg, Russia; and Baku, Azerbaijan.
He said 170 delegates representing member countries of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) will elect the host country of the 2025 World Expo in November this year.
The expo would be an opportunity for Qatari companies and businessmen to build robust relations with the Japanese side and establish joint ventures and businesses in all sector, particularly in Osaka which is a leading business center in the country.
QC’s director-general Saleh Al Sharqi said that the State of Qatar is very keen on participate in international forums.
“Qatar had participated in Expo Astana 2017 in Kazakhstan and its pavilion won the first place and Gold Award among more than 100 pavilions of different participating countries.,” he added.
Sharqi underlined the importance of fostering trade cooperation with Japan, noting that Qatar Chamber sought to enhance cooperation with Japanese chambers for the benefit of increasing the trade exchange between the two countries. In preparation for hosting the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is implementing mega projects which opens the way for Japanese companies to participate, he pointed out.
In turn, Masaki Iwakura said that the expo is a good opportunity for Qatar and Japan to promote their economic and trade ties.
