Doha: The Qatari Businessmen Association discussed with H E Ali Reza Beyman, Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade of Iran and Head of the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization, opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
QBA’s First Deputy to the Chairman Hussein Ibrahim Al Fardan and Board Member Saud Al Mana attended the meeting.
During the event, Beyman emphasised the positive role that the QBA can play in developing trade exchange between both countries by strengthening cooperation between Qatari and Iranian companies.
He added that the recent visit of the Iranian President to Doha, which was followed by an official visit by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, confirmed the will to strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries, noting that Iran’s trade exchanges with the world amount to $100bn, and there is a will to develop them with Qatar, where the volume of trade exchange is about QR777m in 2021. He pointed out that there are many Iranian companies operating in the Qatari market in partnership with Qatari companies in various sectors, most notably trade and services.
He added: “We are planning a billion-dollar trade development between the two countries, which is achievable”.
Also, issues such as providing food and products that Qatar needs for the World Cup, providing food security and preparing for the presence of Qataris in Iran for the agriculture sector, industrial cooperation and exporting carpets handicrafts and other products, establishing a business centre in Qatar, solving Iranian businessmen’s problems in registering companies and obtaining residency, were all among the topics discussed.
Also speaking during the meeting, Al Fardan confirmed the keenness of both sides to enhance economic and trade relations and develop trade exchange, and added that there are many opportunities to enhance cooperation between the Qatari and Iranian private sectors in various fields such as tourism, industry and trade. There are also many incentives and privileges provided by both countries, he said.
The Iranian Trade Centre has been established in Qatar with the private sector, where it will work on many products such as medicine, food and building materials, in addition to establishing a medical coordination office affiliated to the trade centre that will promote medical tourism in a number of Iranian cities at highly competitive prices.
Beyman also stressed two special points regarding the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the first of which is the use of commodity supply capacities, as Qatar will need to supply products and food materials, and this is an opportunity for Iran. He said: “We have established air freight to Qatar, and these flights will start in the coming weeks, and this route will open up for us so that we can send the goods and products that Qatar needs as soon as possible”.
Export associations and the supply of Iranian products to large Qatari stores and malls were also defined, which was achieved, and agreements were concluded in this regard.
Beyman added: “Another issue is the exploitation of Qatar’s tourism opportunities, where tourism opportunities can be offered in cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz, as well as the southern coasts of Iran, as potential tourism opportunities would create diversity for tourists in Qatar, as agreements have been reached in this regard, and we can use the capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to attract tourists during the World Cup”.
The Iranian Deputy Minister announced the opening of a marine tourism line linking Bushehr Port with Hamad International Port, which will be inaugurated during the World Cup in Qatar, expressing the presence of about 3,000 Iranian fans who will visit Doha to encourage the team during the World Cup. He also pointed out that there are Iranian investors who want to invest in Doha through partnerships with Qatari companies in the fields of nanotechnology specialising in medicine and medical equipment.
For his part, Al Mana, who is also a partner of Iranian Trade Center, confirmed that the centre will provide local market with food products and will provide necessary facilities to promote tourism between both countries and provide investment opportunities for businessmen, since investment climate in Qatar is attractive to foreign investors, in addition to existence of great advantages for investors whether in Free Zones or near Hamad International Port.
