Around 1,500 companies from Qatar and Turkey participated in the virtual edition of the ‘Qatari-Turkish Business Forum’ held Tuesday to discuss ways of establishing trade and investment alliances.
Aside from the event’s matchmaking platform, the forum, which was hosted by Qatar Chamber, opened avenues for both countries’ business leaders to review trade and investment cooperation and to discuss ways to forge and strengthen partnerships that support both countries’ economies.
The forum was held in the presence of Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani and Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB)
vice president Selcuk Oztürk, as well as Qatar Chamber first vice chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari and second vice chairman Rashid bin Hamad al-Athba.
Speaking at the event, Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak al-Shafi lauded both countries’ “close and distinct bond”. He said the signing of the Joint Strategic Committee in 2014 helped in the expansion of both countries’ cooperation ties.
He said the joint commercial agreements between both sides also helped facilitate the entry of investors in both Qatar and Turkey, and raised the volume of investments from the government and private sectors.
Al-Shafi stressed that holding virtual meetings help inform businessmen from both countries of the available investment opportunities in both Qatar and Turkey, and to discuss ways to strengthen trade relations.
Turkish ambassador Mehmet Mustafa Göksu stated that the Embassy of Turkey in Doha “is ready to help Qatari businessmen who are interested to invest in Turkey or cooperate with Turkish companies.”
The forum also featured several presentations delivered by Talal Ahmad al-Mahmoud, strategy analyst at Qatar Investment Promotion Agency; Abdulla al-Naimi, investment manager at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP); Fahad al-Kuwari, markets manager at Qatar Free Zone Authority; Lale Eray, head of Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology (MoIT); and Can Gürlek, an expert at the MoIT.
Al-Mahmoud highlighted that the economic incentives offered by Qatar, and that Qatar is expected “to remain strong and stable” in 2021.
Al-Naimi spoke about QSTP’s Product Development Fund (PDF), which encourages local startups and SMEs in the private sector to develop products and services relevant to local market needs.
Al-Kuwari delivered a presentation on the country’s free zones, stating that “Qatar ranked highly” across a range of global competitiveness metrics, “proving a strong and reliable place to do business.”
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