UK’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was scheduled to arrive in Qatar Wednesday in a bid to boost economic and security ties, according to the UK embassy in Doha.
She will meet a number of dignitaries to discuss co-operation on Afghanistan and security in the wider region. She will also visit the Park View Compound, a facility housing people who have left Afghanistan in recent weeks, the embassy explained in a statement.
Qatar has played a critical role in supporting safe passage for those seeking to leave Afghanistan, including more than 100 British nationals since the UK’s evacuation operation ended in late August. The latest flight arrived in Doha on October 18 carrying 17 British nationals.
Truss will also launch a strategic dialogue with Qatar as part of the visit, which will form the basis for deeper co-operation on security, development, trade and investment between the two countries.
“Closer security and economic ties with Gulf allies will help us deliver jobs and opportunities for people back in the UK and ensure as friends and partners that we are operating from a position of strength in the world," she was quoted in the statement.
“I want a closer trading and investment relationship with the Gulf and for us to collaborate more closely on issues like intelligence sharing, development, security, and defense,” added Truss who was arriving in Qatar from Saudi Arabia.
The UK recently fired the starting gun on a free trade deal with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). Trade with the GCC is already worth more than £30bn and a free trade deal would boost that further by creating new opportunities for UK exporters and closer two-way investment ties, the statement added.
Qatar has played a critical role in supporting safe passage for those seeking to leave Afghanistan, including more than 100 British nationals since the UK’s evacuation operation ended in late August. The latest flight arrived in Doha on October 18 carrying 17 British nationals.
Truss will also launch a strategic dialogue with Qatar as part of the visit, which will form the basis for deeper co-operation on security, development, trade and investment between the two countries.
“Closer security and economic ties with Gulf allies will help us deliver jobs and opportunities for people back in the UK and ensure as friends and partners that we are operating from a position of strength in the world," she was quoted in the statement.
“I want a closer trading and investment relationship with the Gulf and for us to collaborate more closely on issues like intelligence sharing, development, security, and defense,” added Truss who was arriving in Qatar from Saudi Arabia.
The UK recently fired the starting gun on a free trade deal with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). Trade with the GCC is already worth more than £30bn and a free trade deal would boost that further by creating new opportunities for UK exporters and closer two-way investment ties, the statement added.
