By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Rosemary, Duchess of Cornwall, will start their official tour of Qatar with a visit to the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) today, British ambassador Michael O’Neill yesterday said.
Giving the details of the visit, the UK ambassador said the tour was part of their wider trip to the region which also included Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Ambassador O’Neill said that the three-day visit would highlight the areas of common interest between Qatar and the UK. He said: “Prince Charles and Camilla will discuss with Qatari officials opportunities of co-operation in the areas of technology, enterprise, education as well as opportunities for women.
Many of the themes of the Qatar National Vision 2030 will be elements of discussion.
They will also take part in some of the events related to Qatar-UK Year of Culture 2013.
He further stated that they would also call on HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation.
The British ambassador said that Prince Charles and his wife shared a very close relationship with Qatar and their last visit to the country was in 2007. He disclosed that HH the Heir Apparent would visit the UK this year. He said: “HH the Heir Apparent is keen to visit the UK and the dates have to be finalised. We have agreed in principle that he will visit the UK some time this year.”  
The UK envoy stated that Prince Charles would visit Qatar Science and Technology Park and interact with the organisations that have close ties with Britain. He said: “This will include visits to the facilities of Qatar Robotic Surgery Centre, Williams F1 Centre, Qatar Carbonate and Carbon Storage Research Centre and Qatargas to Liquid Synthetic Aviation Fuel Project and all the other projects involving British partnerships.”  
According to the envoy, the visit also includes a tour of the Msheireb Enrichment Centre Project.
The ambassador said: “Prince Charles will launch the Qatar- UK Alumni Association which is a new group of Qataris who had some part of their education in the UK. This new group offers an excellent networking and professional development opportunities to its members.” He added that similar networks are already working in many other countries.
On Friday, Prince Charles will tour a farm for a presentation on Qatar’s National Food Security Programme. On the same day, he will also attend a British community event at the British Ambassador’s residence. On Thursday, the Duchess of Cornwall will visit the members of Springboard Network, a personal self development programme for women in the Middle East and meet Qatari women entrepreneurs under Vodafone’s Al-Johara Project. She will also pay a visit to a girls school and meet the English language students participating in Kids Read programme, an initiative  of the British Council.
The ambassador emphasised that the visit was more about the relationship between the countries rather than any political initiative.
He said that the focus of the visit would be on co-operation between both the countries on education, technology and Qatar- UK cultural friendship.
As for  the outcomes of the recent visit of the UK education minister to Qatar, ambassador O’Neill said that an agreement was reached with the Ministry of Education for structured dialogue on education.
“This will be an opportunity for regular detailed discussion on issues of common interest in education involving universities and schools and other educational links. This will be a continued dialogue involving Supreme Education Council,” he added.