Qatar and Malaysia are set to establish a Joint High-Level Committee (HLC) and to reactivate the Joint Technical Committee (JTC), which will serve as a platform to monitor progress in enhancing and follow up on bilateral and economic ties, Malaysian ambassador Dato Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin has said.
The two committees are expected to establish their meetings in the first quarter of 2019, Shamsuddin told Gulf Times in a statement on Wednesday.
“I believe that the current warm and close bilateral relations at the political level will provide an excellent and strong foundation for a more active and meaningful economic co-operation,” Shamsuddin said.
According to the ambassador, total trade between Malaysia and Qatar “has increased twofold in 10 years,” from $320mn in 2007 to $670mn in 2017.
“I am proud to say that the current state of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Qatar are at its highest level as manifested by the exchange of high level visits. It is envisaged that these visits will enhance Malaysia-Qatar relations especially in trade and investment, education, women and community development, anti-corruption, and also to forge closer personal relations with Qatari leaders.
“I am of the view that His Highness’ second visit to Malaysia will enhance the opportunity to discuss ways and means and to further strengthen bilateral co-operation between the two countries, as well as exchange views on various issues that are of mutual concern and common interests with the Qatari leaders,” the ambassador continued.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s visit to Malaysia will witness first meeting between His Highness the Amir and Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed, according to Shamsuddin, who noted that the visit “shall focus more on economic co-operation between Malaysia and Qatar.”
“Being a Malaysian in Qatar, I am deeply honoured when Malaysia has been chosen as the venue to host the ‘3rd Sheikh Tamim Anti-Corruption Excellence Award’. The ceremony is scheduled to be held on December 7, in conjunction with the World International Anti-Corruption Day,” Shamsuddin said.
He said His Highness the Amir and Mahathir are expected to attend the event, which is being co-organised with Vienna-based United Nations office.
“The award also seeks to encourage the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption as the world’s only legally binding international anti-corruption treaty. The award was inaugurated in Vienna in 2016 and later was held in Geneva in 2017,” he said.
The ambassador said that under the new administration, Malaysia would like to continue encouraging Qatari businesses to invest in the country, particularly in new growth areas in both the manufacturing and services sectors.
“The anti-corruption initiatives by His Highness the Amir are relatively similar to the initiative that Malaysia has embarked on under the new government. Combating the scourge of corruption is one of the promises in the new government’s policy. In this regard, Malaysia welcomes any possible areas of co-operation on anti-corruption between Malaysia and Qatar,” he said.
