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Ailyn Agonia
DOHA
Qatar and Argentina are likely to sign 10 agreements related to a wide range of sectors, including civil aviation, maritime transport and waste management, before the end of the year, Ambassador of Argentina to Qatar HE Carlos Hernandez said at a press briefing in Doha on Thursday.
These are in addition to the five deals already signed between the two countries during the recent state visit of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani to the Latin American country, the envoy said.
The agreements in the pipeline include an MoU for cooperation on air transport between Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of Argentina. This will lead to an increase in the number of flights between the two countries in the absence of a direct flight between Doha and Buenos Aires, the envoy said, adding that the topic is on the table and being seriously considered.
An MoU for cooperation between Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) and the Argentinian Under-Secretariat of Ports, Waterways and Merchant Marine is also on the anvil as well as a Letter of Intent between the Doha Municipality and the Government of the City of Buenos Aires.
Other MoUs to be signed are on academic cooperation between Qatar University and Buenos Aires University; cooperation between Strategic Studies Centres of Qatar and Argentina; cooperation between the Qatar National Library and Dr Mariano Moreno National Library of Argentina; and MoU for Cooperation in the field of Protection of Environment and Waste Management. Qatar and Argentina are also working towards signing of MoUs in health, youth and technical cooperation.
"The dynamic cooperation between Qatar and Argentina is very firm, solid and strong. It is a strategic partnership. We are going to keep it on track and we are going to take all the necessary measures to make it more dynamic and efficient," the ambassador said.
He added that an agreement related to labour is also being discussed which will pave way for more Argentine professionals to come to Qatar and contribute to the country's development.
Ambassador Hernandez said that during the state visit, leaders of Qatar and Argentina expressed keenness to turn the bilateral agreements into concrete actions. So, it was decided to convene the second joint meeting of the Qatari-Argentine Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation in Buenos Aires in the beginning of December, he said.
"This committee was established two years ago. Now it's time to have a second meeting to go through point-by-point on topics related to investments, trade and economy between the two countries. The meeting will cover the execution of the signed agreements and discuss new ideas," the ambassador said.
He also mentioned the upcoming visit of Argentina's energy minister to Qatar in November to discuss various topics related to investments including renewable energy.
Further commenting on the outcome of the visit of HH the Amir to Argentina, the envoy described it as 'fascinating'.
