Sweden’s vice minister of trade is scheduled to meet with Qatar’s energy minister today to discuss a proposed new water desalination project powered entirely by solar and wind energy.
Swedish Vice Minister of Trade Oscar Stenstrom’s meeting with HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada is part of a three-day visit to Qatar aimed at fostering dialogue and mutual cooperation and trade between Qatar and Sweden, the Swedish embassy said in a statement.
Aside from participating in the Doha Forum 2017, Stenstrom will be holding bilateral meetings with other Qatari ministers and private sector stakeholders until tomorrow, the embassy said.
Stenstrom’s meeting with al-Sada will focus on a proposed project by a group of Swedish industrial companies and sustainable energy experts. The project would provide for a new water desalination facility run entirely on wind and solar energy, providing significant fuel cost savings and environmental improvements.
“This concept has been tested on a Qatari farm for over a year in a successful pilot project, and is ready to be scaled up to provide fresh water for a large portion of Qatari society,” the embassy said, adding that al-Sada also invited external stakeholders from Ashghal and other organisations to the meeting.
The embassy said Stenstrom will meet the Qatar Investment Authority CEO Sheikh Abdalla bin Mohamed al-Thani to discuss future bilateral investment opportunities, including venture capital fund opportunities in Sweden serving as a hub for investments into the Scandinavian innovation sector.
Stenstrom will also meet Msheireb Properties CEO Abdulla Hassan al-Mehshadi to discuss the waste management solutions provided by Swedish waste management company Envac Group to smart city initiatives in Qatar, including Msheireb Downtown Doha, Lusail, The Pearl, and the Hamad International Airport.
He will also meet with HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari to discuss issues on health and life-science trade and research cooperation, including preparatory remarks for a large healthcare delegation visit from Sweden to Qatar this fall. Stenstrom also met 25 Swedish private sector companies during the Team Sweden business dinner yesterday, including the founding committee of the Swedish Business Council in Qatar, which introduced its vision ahead in strengthening business ties between Qatar and Sweden.
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the Swedish embassy said the important issues raised at the Doha Forum 2017 “are especially relevant to Sweden.”
“Because of this, the presence of Mr Stenstrom marks the depth of Sweden’s commitment to the issues of development, stability, and the refugee crisis, as this year’s topics for Doha Forum,” the embassy stressed.
Stenstrom: Key meetings.
