France, Qatar seek ways to strengthen bilateral investments

France and Qatar on Monday explored strategies to strengthen bilateral investments and foster the development of the financial ecosystem of both the countries, whose bilateral trade has risen to QR9.3bn in 2023 against QR4.9bn in 2017.

This was discussed threadbare at the first edition of 'Qatar-France Startup Meetup', jointly organised by the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and the Economic Department of the French embassy.

"I believe this opens opportunities for Qatari investors to invest in France in sectors promoted by our France 2030 Vision but also for the French funds to better understand the business-friendly ecosystem developed by Qatar to attract more foreign direct investments and foster economic activities that match with Qatar National Vision 2030 priorities,” said Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.

The event convened a distinguished French delegation comprising top-tier asset managers, alongside key Qatar investment stakeholders, including sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), banks, large-scale companies, insurance, and family offices. It offered an unparalleled platform for exploring cooperation and investment prospects, facilitating a deeper understanding of the respective economic landscapes.

The Qatar-France Startup Meetup, Bridging Innovation: AI, Quantum and Digital Collaboration, was successfully organised simultaneously with a French delegation of innovative startups. The event, co-ordinated by Business France Qatar with the active partnership of Qatar Sciences and Technology Park and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, served as a catalyst for knowledge sharing and future co-operation.

"This event serves as a testament to the robust bilateral relations between Qatar and France. It holds particular importance for the QFC as it represents a significant stride towards our mission to strengthen Qatar’s financial sector and create avenues for our stakeholders to form meaningful collaboration and discover new investment opportunities. By facilitating dialogue and informal networking, we are opening gateways that lead business ecosystem growth,” said Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive officer, QFC.