Venezuela eyes joint co-operation with Qatar on several sectors

Venezuela is eyeing joint co-operation with Qatar, especially in energy, agriculture and tourism sectors, as the South American country seeks to broaden horizons that serve the common interests of the two countries.

This was highlighted by Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela, who is leading a high-power delegation of ministers of tourism, transport, agriculture, science and technology, at a meeting with the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) in Doha.The QBA was represented by Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani and Saud al-Mana (board members), and other members Sheikh Faisal bin Fahd al-Thani, Nasser al-Haider, Maqbool Khalfan, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Nawaf and Ihsan al-Khiyami attended the meeting as well as Sarah Abdullah, QBA deputy general manager.Highlighting several attractive incentives for investment, Maduro said the country needs the support of Qatar as he indicated 18 engines of national development such as agriculture, industry, gas and oil, tourism and telecommunications.The Venezuelan government has established strategies to develop these engines to improve the production wheel, he said, pointing out that the country is working on developing an advanced legal framework in order to meet all potential challenges.Sheikh Nawaf stressed the importance of relations between Qatar and Venezuela, which began since the 1970s, and pointed out the importance of the visit in discussing ways of co-operation between the two countries, and working to revitalise economic and trade relations.During the meeting, QBA members spoke about the keenness of Qatar to develop its relations with all countries, as they discussed the current economic situation and the state's drive towards self-sufficiency in various vital sectors, They also highlighted the possibility of partnership in view of slew of incentives provided by Qatar for the foreign investors and that Venezuela is working on to attract foreign direct investment, especially in view of Venezuela planning to enact a special law for economic zones.