Doha-Cardiff flights will open the world to Wales
His Excellency Hamad Al-Muftah, Deputy Ambassador to the UK of the State of Qatar, reflects on the historic flight from Doha to Cardiff Airport that inaugurated a new economic partnership between Wales and Qatar
At 12.39pm on May 1, flight QR323 made history by becoming the inaugural Qatar Airways service from Doha to arrive at Cardiff Airport.
Yet it was more than just the arrival of a passenger aircraft. It was the touchdown of a new partnership between Wales and Qatar. And not just at the level of business investment.
Cardiff Airport already displays pictures of the British-designed football stadiums being built for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. In a few short years, fans from all over Wales will hopefully be streaming through the airport to see their team compete in Qatar.
Few will forget Wales’ remarkable achievement of progressing all the way to the semi-finals of Euro 2016. It is a shining example of how a combination of determination and skill, with excellent support, can lead to tremendous success.
Who else will be using this route? Students, for one.
I am pleased that the distinguished universities and other seats of learning, both in Cardiff and around Wales, will now be within easier reach of students from Qatar. And Wales will now be an even more attractive choice for the 3,000 Qataris who choose to study in the UK every year.
I know they will receive a warm welcome from this diverse and friendly country.
The opening of Wales’ first link to the Gulf – and onwards to Australia and Thailand – was described as a “pivotal moment” by the head of the airport. Yet Cardiff was a natural choice, given the close links that already exist between our two countries.
The South Hook liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Milford Haven – owned by Qatargas – has been keeping Wales warm for over a decade. Via the South Wales Gas Pipeline, it is also able to supply up to 30% of the UK as a whole.
We are proud to be a dependable energy partner, getting Britain – and Wales – through their famous winters.
The South Hook LNG Community Fund has engaged with 600 separate projects in the past 11 years – from cleaner beaches and swimming facilities to defibrilllators for first responders. We recognise that commercial success means little without a broader involvement in the community.
The South Hook LNG terminal in Pembrokeshire is one of the most significant investments that Qatar has made in the UK, which has benefitted both of us greatly. I am proud that it supports jobs and communities across Wales. Processing up to a third of the UK’s gas requirements makes it central to the Welsh and wider UK economy.
Where next? Qatar last year announced a £5bn investment across the UK. We are working to ensure benefits are felt across all nations, including Wales. This is not tokenistic – it makes good business sense to invest in a confident country, looking to connect itself with the rest of the world. Qatar provides wonderful opportunities for a growing number of entrepreneurs and businesses to find new markets.
Both Wales and Qatar are making the transition to a highly-skilled, knowledge-based, outward-looking economies. Both are relatively small countries whose economic growth was helped by natural resources buried beneath the ground. In many ways, Qatar shares the same ambitions as Wales – and this likemindedness has resulted in a number of close partnerships.
First Minister Carwyn Jones and Secretary of State Alun Cairns were the first of up to 150,000 passengers per year to step off Flight QR323. We hope you might also be among them.
Allow me just one word of warning. Our love of football is clear from Qatar 2022. Our love of athletics has led to the hosting of the World Championships in Doha next year. But our love of rugby might take just a little while longer.