Francois Hollande presenting HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency
Authority Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah with the Medal of Honour.
QNA/Paris
President Francois Hollande yesterday presented HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah with the Medal of Honour with the rank of Senior Officer from the National Order of the Legion of Honour.
In a speech he delivered on the occasion, HE al-Attiyah thanked President Hollande and members of the Grand Chancery for the prestigious award.
HE al-Attiyah also conveyed to the French president and the people of France the highest regards of HH the Emir of Qatar, the government and the people of Qatar.
Al-Attiyah added that the leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani laid the foundations for a strong and a long lasting relationship between Qatar and France.
“This prestigious award I am receiving today is a recognition to the great friendship and mutual co-operation between our two countries”, Al-Attiyah noted.
Al-Attiyah said that the economy of Qatar has grown in leaps and bounds in the last two decades under the leadership of the Emir. “France has been a true and strong partner all along the development path of our country from a simple economy to a formidable financial powerhouse in the region and the world at large”, Al-Attiyah said.
Over the years, HE al-Attiyah said, French firms have made their mark in many sectors of Qatari economy : aviation , luxury goods, water treatment, distribution, construction, to name a few.
In the space of just five years, Qatari direct and indirect investments in France amounted approximately to $15bn, al-Attiyah said.
He noted: “if you visit Qatar today, you will see the visible marks of the French-Qatari co-operation in many sectors including education, science and technology, health , oil and gas, transportation , construction as well as culture”.
Al-Attiyah added : “We strive to further strengthen and cement our economic and cultural ties for the benefits of our two nations”.
Al-Attiyah said: “Although this prestigious Medal of Honour has been bestowed upon my person, its incumbent on me to recognise the role of many others in Qatar who played a significant part in the growth and development of my country , in particular our leadership.
“In recognition of their remarkable contribution, I would like to dedicate this award to the leadership of my country and to the men and women who laid the foundation for this great co-operation between Qatar and France”.
Al-Attiyah stressed the need to explore new horizons and open new avenues for co-operation between the two countries.
