Austria eyes Qatar as strategic partner for high-quality food exports

Austria is exploring opportunities to expand its trade ties with Qatar, citing the Gulf state as a "promising” market for high-quality Austrian food exports.In a recent dinner reception in Doha, Austrian ambassador Erika Bernhard and Austrian business leader Christoph Kastner expressed optimism about strengthening bilateral trade relations, particularly in the food sector.Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event, Kastner, who serves as the deputy chair of the Committee for Food Trade at the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Kastner Group, identified Qatar as a promising market for Austrian food products."Austria produces very high-quality products, particularly in food. I believe there is significant potential for Austrian companies to establish business connections here in Qatar,” emphasised Kastner after visiting the hypermarkets of regional retail giant LuLu Group.While Kastner lauded Qatar’s progress in domestic food production and efforts to achieve self-sufficiency, particularly in the dairy sector, he also emphasised that there are abundant opportunities for premium Austrian products in the Qatari market."We recognise the developments in Qatar’s food production in a wide range of sectors, but at the same time, we are confident that Austrian and other European products that are of high quality have a very good chance in this market."Beyond basic products like milk and dairy, our focus is bringing high-quality food here,” Kastner explained, adding that there are also opportunities for Austrian food producers and wholesalers in the country.Both Kastner and the ambassador emphasised the importance of exchanging best practices and building stronger bilateral relations, citing Austria’s ranking as one of the top 10 countries globally for food safety. They also underscored the country’s membership in the Consumer Goods Forum as a significant advantage for potential partnerships.Bernhard said Austrian food products already have a stronger presence in Qatar than most consumers realise. "There is a wide availability of organic juices and cookies, among many other products, so it’s quite well-provided, but I’m sure there is space for more,” the ambassador pointed out.In a speech during the dinner reception, Bernhard announced that Austria and Qatar are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year, emphasising both countries’ strong partnership across political, business, and cultural domains during a recent reception dinner.The ambassador also lauded Qatar’s critical role in international mediation, expressing gratitude for the Gulf nation’s diplomatic support: "Qatar is an extremely important partner when it comes to international mediation.”