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QNA
Berlin/Doha
The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for a working visit to Germany.
The Amir will meet German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Angela Merkel and other senior German officials.
During the visit, the two countries will seek to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields.
The Amir and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will inaugurate the 9th Qatar-Germany Business and Investment Forum on Friday.
The two-day forum will be attended by senior government officials and decision makers, businessmen and representatives of the public and private sectors and major companies of both the countries.
The forum aims to enhance bilateral relations in all areas, especially economic, investment and trade.
The forum is being held at a time when Qatar's investments in Germany exceed 25 billion euros in vital projects such as cars, information technology and banking sectors, in the light of the shared desire of both the sides to encourage and develop mutual investments.
The forum also comes at a time when the relations between Qatar and Germany are seeing steady growth as Qatar has become an important partner of Germany in the Middle East and North Africa region.
This economic and investment event embodies the strength and robustness of the Qatari-German relations as it is based on mutual trust and shared vision. The event is also considered a cornerstone of Germany's cooperation with the Arab world.
The trade relations between Doha and Berlin have developed significantly given both parties' keenness to expand mutual cooperation, which is reflected in the increase in the number of German companies operating in Qatar, which has reached 300 companies and counting.
The increase in the trade exchange volume between Qatar and Germany has contributed to making Germany one of the most important trade partners of Qatar.
The unique Qatari investments in Germany also deepened interest in expanding mutual cooperation between the two sides to the economic and financial aspects for the long term.
Ambassador of Qatar to Germany HE Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman al Thani said the Amir's inauguration of the forum reflects the strength of ties between the two nations, as well as their commitment to enhancing it in all fields, especially in trade, due to the added value it provides to ties.
The envoy said such events are a good opportunity to get to know the economic and investment activities of the participating parties. It also presents a suitable platform to exchange opinions and expertise, he added.
The ambassador said such events are also a good opportunity to get to know the available investment opportunities in both the countries.
He said this year's forum will organise a number of seminars, which will help present businessmen with a clear picture of the investment climate in the two countries.
Some of the talks will focus on the legal aspect, and the investment incentives offered in the two countries as well, he added.
The envoy said the forum will also see Qatar's Free Zones Authority offer its strategy for the first time ever. It will discuss the perks and benefits it will offer investors, as well as the opportunities the zone offers to reach the region's markets. It will also provide an overview of the capabilities of Hamad Port, the region's most modern and largest port, he added.
The envoy said the forum will also see the establishment of a Qatari-German business council between Germany's trade chamber, Qatar Chamber and Qatar Business Association.
The council will be the base to following up on joint investment projects and to boost trade, he said, adding that it will help increase cooperation between German and Qatari companies by creating new investment opportunities.
He added that the forum will witness the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Technical University of Munich, noting that the two sides have many partnerships in the education and scientific research fields.
On his views on Qatari-German ties, the ambassador said the two sides enjoy strong ties that strengthened even further recently. The ties extend beyond the economic and investment fields, evident by holding the Qatar-Germany Year of Culture in 2017.
