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Qatar keen to develop relationship with Algeria: QBA
QBA hosts Algerian minister of commerce; two sides agree to activate Qatari-Algerian Business Council
Qatar is keen to develop its relationship with Algeria, and the country’s investors will be interested in the Algerian market and its investment opportunities, Qatari Businessmen Association leaders told Algeria’s minister of commerce here.
The QBA held a meeting with Algeria’s Minister of Commerce Said Djellab and the accompanying delegation.
Welcoming the Algerian delegation, QBA chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani stressed on the “importance of the Algerian market and the natural and economic resources of Algeria.”
Sheikh Faisal talked about “his own experience as an investor, focusing on the country’s natural potentials such as climate, diversity, and agricultural land that could be very useful for mutual collaboration in the agricultural and tourism sectors; in addition to the skilled and specialised labour available in Algeria.” He also pointed to the keenness of Qatari businessmen to discuss the means of co-operation and investment in Qatar and Algeria as long as the co-operation achieves mutual benefits.
Sheikh Faisal confirmed QBA’s “interest” in the Algerian market and its investment opportunities. He also pointed at the openness of the Qatari market to investments and partnership.
The two sides agreed to activate the Qatari-Algerian Business Council. The council will aim at creating the right environment for investment and exploring the potential investment projects that could be of interest to both the countries. QBA first deputy chairman Hussain Alfardan spoke about Qatar’s keenness to develop its relationship with Algeria, which offers “diversified investment opportunities” in many sectors such as agriculture, tourism and industry, especially in the food sector.
Minister Djellab expressed his happiness at his meeting with the QBA leadership, and said “such meetings confirm the strong relations between the two brotherly countries”. He called for further development of the Qatari-Algerian economic relationship “to a level of aspiration” for the two countries.
The Algerian market is “large and promising” and has “many potentials and investment opportunities” in sectors such as mining, pharmaceuticals, tourism, industry, services and agriculture, which he said, will potentially encourage Qatari investors to establish businesses.
“Algeria is the gateway of Africa for its important geographical location between the continents of Europe and Africa. We also have excellent relationship with all African and European countries, and the Qatari investors can benefit from these,” Djellab said.
Bilateral trade between the two countries reached QR163mn in 2017 compared to QR134mn in the previous year, a growth of 22%. Some 115 Qatari-Algerian companies operate in the Qatari and Algerian markets. The Algerian ambassador Abdelaziz al-Sabaa was among those present.
The QBA delegation also comprised Saud al-Mana, Khalid al-Mannai, Maqbool Habib Khalfan, Abdullah al-Kubaisi, Mohamed Althaf and Sheikh Khalid bin Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani.
The Qatari Businessmen Association held a meeting with Algeria’s Minister of Commerce Said Djellab and the accompanying delegation in Doha. Welcoming the Algerian delegation, QBA chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani stressed on the “importance of the Algerian market and the natural and economic resources of Algeria.” Sheikh Faisal talked about “his own experience as an investor, focusing on the country’s natural potentials such as climate, diversity, and agricultural land that could be very useful for mutual collaboration in the agricultural and tourism sectors; in addition to the skilled and specialised labour available in Algeria.” Picture shows HE Sheikh Faisal, Hussain Alfardan and Djellab with Algerian delegation and QBA members.