Trade volume between Qatar and Malaysia amounted to $130mn from January to April 2019, an official of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has said.
According to Matrade trade commissioner Omar Mohd Salleh, Malaysia recorded a 19% growth in exports to Qatar during the same period with jewellery as “the most sought after” product followed by processed foods. Conversely, Qatar exports chemicals and petroleum products to the Southeast Asian country, Salleh continued.
He said Matrade, together with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), is in Qatar on a three-day visit to follow up on previous meetings organised in Qatar. Both agencies held several meetings on Monday, including one with Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidli, Salleh said.
“We are glad to see the business communities of Malaysia and Qatar in heavy discussions to realise the plans that had been discussed in previous meetings. We are here to facilitate their businesses, and we are looking forward to create more collaboration. The ongoing discussion with Qatar Chamber and the Embassy of Malaysia will further assist the increase of bilateral trade of both countries,” Salleh told Gulf Times.
Abdul Mukti bin Abu Bakar, Mida director-Consul Investment, said the meeting with Qatar Chamber discussed a ‘Trade and Investment (T&I) Mission’ to Qatar, which is tentatively slated this October, and would be led by the Minister of International Trade and Industry Malaysia (Miti).
He said the T&I aims to orient Qatari businessmen on trade and investment opportunities in Malaysia, and for Malaysian business communities to explore investment opportunities in Qatar.
“During the T&I, a roundtable meeting would be held with Qatar’s captains of industries, in collaboration with Qatar Chamber. In total, we are expecting 80 participants from both sides. The event is also expected to hold one-on-one, B2B, and B2G meetings to discuss further details on potential projects,” Abu Bakar told Gulf Times.
In a media statement, al-Obaidli, said the Qatari private sector views Malaysia as one of the “most important” economic destinations worldwide. He noted that Qatari investors are interested in identifying investment opportunities in Malaysia and entering into projects with their Malaysian counterparts, especially in the field of Islamic banking, and to benefit from Malaysia’s experience being a leader in this field.
During the meeting, al-Obaidli underscored the importance of forging economic alliances and partnerships between the private sectors of both countries. He said the exchange of business delegations will contribute to the increase in mutual investments and sustainable partnerships, as well as long-term contracts with large returns between Qatari and Malaysian companies, especially in the sectors of education, agriculture, tourism, and banking, among others.
He added that Qatar Chamber encourages the building of stronger economic relations between Qatar and Malaysia based on mutual interest. He also affirmed the willingness of the chamber to support and assist Malaysian companies wishing to enter the Qatari market.
Al-Obaidli also hoped that the Qatari-Malaysian business meeting “will be a good sign for the opening of new horizons in trade co-operation between the two countries in various trade fields.”
He said Matrade, together with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), is in Qatar on a three-day visit to follow up on previous meetings organised in Qatar. Both agencies held several meetings on Monday, including one with Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidli, Salleh said.
“We are glad to see the business communities of Malaysia and Qatar in heavy discussions to realise the plans that had been discussed in previous meetings. We are here to facilitate their businesses, and we are looking forward to create more collaboration. The ongoing discussion with Qatar Chamber and the Embassy of Malaysia will further assist the increase of bilateral trade of both countries,” Salleh told Gulf Times.
Abdul Mukti bin Abu Bakar, Mida director-Consul Investment, said the meeting with Qatar Chamber discussed a ‘Trade and Investment (T&I) Mission’ to Qatar, which is tentatively slated this October, and would be led by the Minister of International Trade and Industry Malaysia (Miti).
He said the T&I aims to orient Qatari businessmen on trade and investment opportunities in Malaysia, and for Malaysian business communities to explore investment opportunities in Qatar.
“During the T&I, a roundtable meeting would be held with Qatar’s captains of industries, in collaboration with Qatar Chamber. In total, we are expecting 80 participants from both sides. The event is also expected to hold one-on-one, B2B, and B2G meetings to discuss further details on potential projects,” Abu Bakar told Gulf Times.
In a media statement, al-Obaidli, said the Qatari private sector views Malaysia as one of the “most important” economic destinations worldwide. He noted that Qatari investors are interested in identifying investment opportunities in Malaysia and entering into projects with their Malaysian counterparts, especially in the field of Islamic banking, and to benefit from Malaysia’s experience being a leader in this field.
During the meeting, al-Obaidli underscored the importance of forging economic alliances and partnerships between the private sectors of both countries. He said the exchange of business delegations will contribute to the increase in mutual investments and sustainable partnerships, as well as long-term contracts with large returns between Qatari and Malaysian companies, especially in the sectors of education, agriculture, tourism, and banking, among others.
He added that Qatar Chamber encourages the building of stronger economic relations between Qatar and Malaysia based on mutual interest. He also affirmed the willingness of the chamber to support and assist Malaysian companies wishing to enter the Qatari market.
Al-Obaidli also hoped that the Qatari-Malaysian business meeting “will be a good sign for the opening of new horizons in trade co-operation between the two countries in various trade fields.”
