A Qatari economic delegation visited the city of Bordeaux in the southwest of France, in the context of strengthening bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the French Republic, and the continuous efforts to develop economic relations with various French cities.
The delegation was chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Muhammad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Chamber and His Excellency Sheikh Nawwaf bin Nasser Al Thani, a member of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Businessmen Association.
The visit, which came at the invitation of His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic, in cooperation with the French Qatar Economic Association, “Kadran”, a tour of a number of industrial sites and major companies such as the main headquarters of the “Talis” group, and the headquarters of the French company “Olicrom” specializing in smart materials, as well as visiting a number of research centers in the city of Bordeaux and its suburbs.
During this visit, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Qatar Chamber and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bordeaux Georond, aimed at strengthening economic relations and opening new horizons for cooperation between the two sides.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, President of the Qatar Chamber, and Mr. Patrick Segene, President of the Bordeaux Jeronde Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic.
Moreover, the Qatari delegation participated in a round business table, during which the opportunities for cooperation between the Qatari and French companies were discussed, as well as the definition of the city of Bordeaux and its suburbs and Jerond County, and the leading economic sectors in the region, as well as reviewing the business environment in the State of Qatar, the climate and investment opportunities available in the two countries and cooperation in the field of inter -trade.
His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Muhammad Al Thani stressed in his speech during the meeting, the close relations that bring together the two friendly countries, pointing out that the French Republic is a reliable strategic partner for Qatar, and that cooperation between them exceeds the limits of traditional diplomacy to reflect a partnership based on confidence, common vision and achievements.
His Excellency highlighted the Qatar Chamber’s keenness to build firm partnerships with the French private sector based on finding added value and achieving sustainability, noting that the Qatari investments in France have achieved remarkable growth in various fields that include real estate, sports, hospitality and innovation, while French companies are increasingly popular to enter the Qatari market in an unprecedented way.
He explained that the trade exchange between the two countries records good rates, with a value of more than 1.3 billion euros in the past year.
At the same time, he praised the characteristic of Bordeaux as a global center for advanced industries, especially in the fields of aviation, defense, modern technology and logistics, which are sectors that intersect Qatar’s priorities in its march towards achieving a diverse economy based on knowledge and sustainable development.
For his part, Mr. Patrick Segene noted the relations between the two sides, noting that this meeting represents an important step in terms of strengthening cooperation relations between the business sectors in Qatar and France.
In turn, His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic, said that the State of Qatar and the Bordeaux region are participating in integral strengths, the ancient Bordeaux experience in advanced technologies, environmentally friendly industries, and the main sectors such as health, security and tourism – along with Qatar’s strategic site, its modern infrastructure, and the ambitious economic diversification program – allows many promising prospects for cooperation.
His Excellency pointed out that this visit provides a valuable opportunity to explore these ways, and the beginning of successful commercial partnerships and alliances between the two parties.
In addition, His Excellency Sheikh Nawwaf bin Nasser Al Thani, a member of the Board of Directors of the Qatari Businessmen Association, praised the durability of relations between Qatar France and the desire of the two countries to develop them, pointing out that the extensive official visits between officials of the two countries as well as the private sector of a number of French cities, confirming keenness to develop these bilateral relations and upgrade them to become typical, and therefore there is a possibility to achieve a lot in this partnership and strengthen them.
He pointed out that the State of Qatar managed to achieve a great renaissance on all legislative and logistical facades and in infrastructure, and also provides great investment incentives for the foreign investor, in addition to its geographical proximity to large markets in the region.
In this regard, he emphasized that the Qatari Businessmen Association is ready to discuss all available investment opportunities, whether in Qatar or France.
The Qatari Businessmen Association seeks, through a group of investors and major companies, to improve the role of the private sector and establish real partnerships with the French private sector in Qatar and France, contributing to the diversification of inter -investments in important economic fields for the two countries in addition to expanding economic, technical and scientific cooperation and exchanging information.