Business leaders from Qatar and Pakistan are mulling the establishment of joint factories in Qatar to provide various commodities to the local market and export the surplus, Qatar Chamber (QC) has said.
The plan was discussed recently by officials of Qatar Chamber during a series of business meetings with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
During the meetings, QC also discussed ways to increase Qatar’s imports of Pakistani goods, Qatar Chamber said in a press statement. The deliberations, held from July 11 to 14, focused on enhancing co-operation ties between both parties in economic and trade sectors, including construction, building materials, foodstuff, textiles and furniture.
The meetings were attended by QC board member Rashid bin Hamad al-Athba and director-general Saleh bin Hamad al-Sharqi, who reviewed trade relations between Qatar and Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan also held a meeting with the Qatari delegation to discuss ways of boosting bilateral relations particularly in the private sector.
Khan said the visit significantly reflected the strong ties of both countries. He also praised the Qatari businessmen’s confidence in Pakistan’s economy, and hoped the meeting would help expand co-operation and establish more ventures.
Al-Athba said Qatar’s delegation invited their Pakistani counterparts to visit Qatar to explore investment opportunities. The invitation was “highly welcomed by Pakistan and there is a large business delegation expected to visit Qatar soon”, he noted.
Meanwhile, al-Sharqi stressed QC’s interest in opening new channels of trade co-operation with all friendly and sisterly countries and to find new sources of imports.
He said there was a large trade exchange between Qatar and Pakistan, adding that the chamber sought throughout the discussions with the Islamabad chamber to increase Qatar’s imports from Pakistan, especially food items and building materials.
“Trade with Pakistan is witnessing rapid growth. The trade volume last year reached QR2.8bn from QR1.9bn and QR887mn in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Qatar’s exports to Pakistan in 2016 touched QR2.5bn, whereas Pakistan’s imports to Qatar were only QR317.7mn,” al-Sharqi said.
* Factories jointly established by Qatari and Pakistani businessmen in Qatar will provide various commodities
* Trade between Qatar and Pakistan is witnessing rapid growth
* The trade volume in 2016 reached QR2.8bn from QR1.9bn and QR887mn in 2014 and 2015, respectively lQatar’s exports to Pakistan in 2016 touched QR2.5bn, whereas Pakistan’s imports to Qatar were QR317.7mn
Qatar Chamber officials with their Pakistani counterparts during a recent meeting in Islamabad.
