H.E. Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, Minister of Trade and Industry and Acting Minister of Finance, met yesterday with a delegation of businessmen of the Qatari-French Economic Association (Kadran) and the international branch of the Association of French Employers (MEDEF), which is currently visiting the country.
The meeting was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to the Republic of France during the meeting, trade, industrial and investment relations between the two countries and ways to develop them were discussed in light of the close ties between the two friendly countries.
H.E. The Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of Finance stressed during the meeting the importance of the associations "Kadran" and "Mediph" as they represent important economic steps in the process of distinguished relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of France, which contributed to deepening and strengthening the ties of friendship between the two sides, pointing out that trade between the two countries played an important role in strengthening economic and trade relations, where the volume of trade between the two countries during 2020 reached approximately $1.36 billion. His Excellency explained that France is one of the most important strategic partners of the State of Qatar, where the number of French companies operating in Qatar reached 418 companies, including 68 companies with 100% French ownership, 339 companies established in partnership with the Qatari side, 8 companies licensed by the Qatar Financial Center, and 3 representative offices of the Republic of France. His Excellency pointed out that the state of Qatar has moved towards accelerating the implementation of initiatives and projects aimed at promoting its economic openness and supporting its position as an ideal destination for business and investment through the development and issuance of legislation stimulating the foreign private sector (foreign investment), such as the Law regulating the investment of non-Qatari capital in economic activity, and the Law on Investment Free Zones, Which allows foreign investors to own 100%.
His Excellency added that the state has also worked to allow individuals and non-Qatari commercial companies to own real estate in several vital economic and tourism areas of the country, in addition to issuing a law to regulate the partnership between the government and private sectors, with the aim of increasing the contribution of private sector companies in the implementation, construction, financing, operation and management of development projects of the state, In this regard, he called on French companies to take advantage of this legislation and make more investments in the Qatari market.
For its part, the business delegation of the Qatari-French Economic Association (Kadran) and the international branch of the Association of French Employers (MEDEF) during the meeting praised the distinguished relations between the Republic of France and the State of Qatar, they stressed the keenness of the French government and the private sector to strengthen relations for the benefit of the two countries.
Kadran is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 2015 with major Qatari businesses operating in the Republic of France, major French companies operating in Qatar and influential figures.