Paraguay's ambassador in Doha, Angel Ramon Barchini, said that the state visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to his country is a beginning of a new phase of the existing co-operation and a foundation for a stronger future prospects.
The ambassador said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the future of relations between Doha and Asuncion is an integrated model thanks to the advantages enjoyed by the two countries.
He pointed out that the mutual visits, the establishment of a joint ministerial committee and the signing of various co-operation agreements in various fields have a great impact in supporting the future of the ambitious relations between Qatar and Paraguay.
The ambassador explained that Paraguay's new government is committed to opening new markets in different continents of the world with special attention to the Middle East and Asian countries, stressing that the embassy in Qatar is Paraguay's only diplomatic representation in the GCC and will be the main gateway to the expansion into the Asian continent.
Barchini pointed out that the Amir's visit means a lot to the Paraguayan government and people, stressing that it contributes to enhancing bilateral relations and opens new and beneficial opportunities for both parties, and continues to make progress in trade, tourism and investment with Qatar.
The ambassador added that His Highness the Amir will meet with representatives of the executive, legislative and judicial authorities.
The Amir will also meet representatives of the private and commercial sectors in various fields to identify opportunities for co-operation and investment between the two countries, in addition to signing several bilateral co-operation agreements in a number of fields.
The ambassador noted that Qatar and his country signed an agreement to promote and protect mutual investments, and another one to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion in 2017 as part of the state's efforts to attract the strongest economies in the Arab world.
He added that his country has taken measures to attract capital from all over the world and to encourage investment, including the signing of a number of bilateral and international treaties to protect investment, recognising international arbitration, and providing foreign investment laws that let foreigners have the same guarantees and rights and obligations of Paraguayan investor and other government facilities and tax exemptions.
The ambassador expressed his admiration for Qatar's dealing with the Gulf crisis and its ability to overcome the current situation positively.
He said that Doha, after the blockade imposed on it by the Gulf countries, was able to face the situation, and succeeded in moving forward to achieve self-sufficiency and open up to new markets, creating opportunities for import and export with the world as a whole.
He also pointed out that his country exports to Qatar meat and fine coal, food products and poultry.
