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HE the Minister of Economy and Trade Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani and Portuguese Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas have signed the minutes of an agreement to enhance trade between Qatar and Portugal.
HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim said the agreement aims to boost trade between the two countries which stood at QR676mn ($185mn) in 2013.
He added that there are opportunities for the private sector in both countries to enhance investment, pointing to some initiatives that were put forward and are being studied and discussed ahead of their implementation.
The Minister said bilateral agreements on investment and investor protection are being prepared, noting that the two countries have agreements in place on double taxation as well as economic and trade agreement.
The agreement signing comes on the second and last day of the first session of the Qatari-Portuguese commission on economic, trade and technical co-operation.
During the two-day event, the two sides reviewed co-operation in the economic, trade and investment areas and agreed to take the necessary steps to develop them. They also reiterated their keenness on deepening co-operation and activating agreements and memoranda of understanding.
Meanwhile, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met Portuguese Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas and the delegation accompanying him yesterday.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed relations between Qatar and Portugal and means of developing them. They also discussed a set of regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The Portuguese Ambassador to Qatar Fernando Araujo attended the meeting along with a number of Qatari cabinet officials.
Separately, HE the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also met the Portuguese Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas and the delegation accompanying him.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed means of enhancing co-operation between the two countries in the fields of municipality and urban planning.