Germany has lauded the Qatari government, including major private sector players, for its efforts to “recalibrate” the country’s business environment and for tapping new markets amid an economic blockade imposed by some of its Arab neighbours last year.
According to German ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel, Qatar “has taken the right decision” to assess the situation and to recalibrate business interests and by finding new markets.
On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt, cut land, sea, and air links with Qatar.
Citing HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani’s discussion with Dr Peter Altmaier, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, on the sidelines of the recently-concluded Hannover Fair 2018, Muzel said “while Qatar has lost some markets in the region, it gained even more customers in the vicinity and up to Asia.”
“This is a new challenge but as you take it positively, this just shows how vibrant Qatar is, and now we are in the midst of a very positive running and managed recalibration process,” the ambassador told Gulf Times.
“Kudos to the Qatari government because under the current circumstances, which are not easy, they are successfully readjusting economic policies and finding out new avenues for both exports and imports, and this just shows that Qatar is not only focusing on the crisis and its impact, but especially on what to make the best out of it, so this gives new impetus to the people and a positive challenge,” he continued.
At the same time, Muzel said, Germany, including countries such as the US and France, are supporting efforts to resolve the Gulf crisis “as quickly as possible.”
“It is a regional crisis and they are going to solve it, but we, as many other partners – the US, France, and Germany - we’re putting our hands together to assist in finding a quick and proper solution so that we can restart and reboot the situation in the business here. Even if it’s a regional crisis, everybody is doing their part to support all parties to come to a positive solution. But Qatar is doing its best to recalibrate,” Muzel said.
He added: “What we laud is that Qatar is trying to defuse the situation actively, which is what we really appreciate, and all the main stakeholders are trying to contribute with their efforts at the political level so that situation will be solved.
“We laud very positively the very successful recalibration efforts of the Qatari government and the Qatari and foreign business communities, which are putting their hands together to make the best out of the current situation.”
On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt, cut land, sea, and air links with Qatar.
Citing HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani’s discussion with Dr Peter Altmaier, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, on the sidelines of the recently-concluded Hannover Fair 2018, Muzel said “while Qatar has lost some markets in the region, it gained even more customers in the vicinity and up to Asia.”
“This is a new challenge but as you take it positively, this just shows how vibrant Qatar is, and now we are in the midst of a very positive running and managed recalibration process,” the ambassador told Gulf Times.
“Kudos to the Qatari government because under the current circumstances, which are not easy, they are successfully readjusting economic policies and finding out new avenues for both exports and imports, and this just shows that Qatar is not only focusing on the crisis and its impact, but especially on what to make the best out of it, so this gives new impetus to the people and a positive challenge,” he continued.
At the same time, Muzel said, Germany, including countries such as the US and France, are supporting efforts to resolve the Gulf crisis “as quickly as possible.”
“It is a regional crisis and they are going to solve it, but we, as many other partners – the US, France, and Germany - we’re putting our hands together to assist in finding a quick and proper solution so that we can restart and reboot the situation in the business here. Even if it’s a regional crisis, everybody is doing their part to support all parties to come to a positive solution. But Qatar is doing its best to recalibrate,” Muzel said.
He added: “What we laud is that Qatar is trying to defuse the situation actively, which is what we really appreciate, and all the main stakeholders are trying to contribute with their efforts at the political level so that situation will be solved.
“We laud very positively the very successful recalibration efforts of the Qatari government and the Qatari and foreign business communities, which are putting their hands together to make the best out of the current situation.”
