QDB’s support for private sector exports is helping advance economic development in Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah (left) said. Right: Qatari exporters and Moroccan importers after the signing ceremony.
Qatari and Moroccan traders have signed three commercial contracts worth QR100mn for the export of Qatar-manufactured plastic, irrigation, and other products.
During the joint meetings held recently, the two parties reviewed potential export opportunities to promote some 13 Qatari products that have a high demand in the Moroccan market, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) said.
Qatar’s ambassador to Morocco Abdullah bin Falah al-Dosari and a group of company representatives from both countries attended the signing ceremony.
A QDB study revealed that Qatari products such as detergents, medical injections, aluminium, and plastic products have a high demand in the Moroccan market.
Among the 11 companies exporting these products include Qatar National Aluminium Panel Company, Qatar German Company for Medical Devices (QGMD), Qatar Polymer Industrial Company, Al Haya Waste Management & Projects, Gulf Plastic Company, International Company of Packaging, Qatar Integrated Plastic Bags Factory, Doha Plastic Company, Gulf Plastic Company, National Detergent Company, and Qatar Detergents Company.
QDB chairman HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani, also the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank said, “We are delighted to see the successful culmination of these efforts, meetings, and numerous initiatives to support the private sector and local SMEs (small and medium enterprises) as they reach out to global markets.”
“By supporting export expansion in the private sector, QDB helps advance economic development, one of the main pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” he added.
QDB chief executive Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa said, “QDB’s strategy is to open international markets to Qatari private sector companies, and there have been a number of successes in the Tunisian and Moroccan markets. We aim to encourage the private sector to export its products based on tailored market studies of Qatari products, examining quality, pricing, and imported products in relevant markets.”
Al-Khalifa said the results will enable QDB to identify new markets and set up business meetings with major importers. QDB provides consultancy, marketing and legal advisory services to Qatari companies, with the aim of empowering the private sector in the country.
“Moroccan market has attracted Qatari exporters for its vast business opportunities. We look forward to supporting the state’s efforts to increase Qatari non-hydrocarbon exports to Morocco and to open areas of co-operation between Qatari companies and their Moroccan counterparts.”
Al-Khalifa said the volume of trade exchange between Morocco and Qatar “shows a very strong and positive relationship” with Qatar’s exports to Morocco reaching QR377mn in 2013. On the other hand, Moroccan exports to Qatar reached QR30mn during the same year.
Executive director Hassan al-Mansouri of Tasdeer, QDB’s export arm, explained that the Moroccan market has been chosen based on studies to identify new export opportunities.
“We are proud of the interest shown in high-quality products from Qatari companies. This reflects the volume of diversification and development of national industries as well as the promising opportunities to compete regionally and internationally,” al-Mansouri said.
