Economy, politics among key topics highlighting Korea-Qatar 50th anniversary forum

A deep dive into clean hydrogen, smart agriculture, and political and diplomatic relations will be among the discussions that will highlight the upcoming ‘Korea-Qatar 50th Anniversary Future Forum,’ which is slated for September 12 in Doha.

Under the theme ‘50 Years and Beyond’, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the State of Qatar will host the event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between South Korea and Qatar.

“This forum will provide a stage to consolidate discussions on the bilateral relationship to date and lay the foundation for future co-operation,” stated the embassy, which will invite officials and experts from government, academia, and the private sector to facilitate discussions on diverse areas of co-operation between South Korea and Qatar.

According to the embassy, the forum will comprise two sessions: ‘Korea and Qatar, a 50-Year History of Successes and Challenges’ and ‘Beyond 50 Years, Toward Further Possibilities’.

In the first session, speakers will reflect on the robust co-operation between South Korea and Qatar over the past 50 years, focusing on two major areas: Politics and economy. A presentation on the political sector will highlight achievements in diplomatic relationships followed by another presentation on economic co-operation, particularly in the energy sector, which has profoundly impacted the bilateral relationship.

Following the presentations titled ‘Korea-Qatar Co-operation in an Era of Geopolitical Upheaval’ and ‘50 Years Together, Building the Future: Economy and Security Co-operation between Korea and Qatar’, speakers will engage in a discussion to further explore these topics.

Experts will lead the second session from various fields relevant to future areas of collaboration. Taking note of the multiple MoUs inked during President Yoon Suk-yeol’s state visit last year, South Korea and Qatar have committed to expanding co-operation into new sectors, including food and agriculture, renewable energy, and health. Experts in these fields will share their insights deepening collaboration in these areas.

The presentations during the second session are titled ‘Korean Smart Agriculture Technologies for Qatar’s Food Security’, ‘Korea’s Clean Hydrogen Certification Scheme’, and ‘International Healthcare Business, From Korea to Qatar & From Qatar to Korea’.

The embassy also stated that a luncheon will take place between the two sessions. During the luncheon, a member of a supporter group dedicated to promoting South Korean culture in Qatar will share a presentation on its public diplomacy achievements related to South Korea-Qatar relations.