German firms are Qatar’s preferred partners in development, says envoy

German companies, particularly many SMEs, are Qatar’s “preferred partners” in implementing the country’s 2030 national vision and in preparations for the hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel has said.
Muzel made the statement on the occasion of the Annual General Assembly of the German Business Council Qatar (GBCQ) held yesterday in Doha. The meeting was held in the presence of Muzel and Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani, chairman NBK & Sons Holding, who were the guests of honour.
The meeting, according to the GBCQ, “concludes an outstanding year in Qatar-Germany business relations,” which witnessed the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and a large business delegation to Germany on the occasion of the Qatar-Germany Business and Investment Forum held last September 2018 in Berlin.
Similarly, the meeting also concludes the establishment of the Joint Task Force on Trade and Investment and the sixth session of the Joint Economic Commission co-chaired by HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari and his German counterpart, the GBCQ said.
“The strategic character of German-Qatar business and investment relation is a success story, built on mutual trust, reliability and excellent quality of goods and services for more than 40 years now.
“The German Business Council is a crucial catalyst in further strengthening Qatari-German business relations. I am looking forward to continue working with GBCQ and our Qatari partners towards this end,” Muzel said.
The meeting also witnessed the election of the council’s new board of directors led by chairman Henning Zimmermann, and board members Elias Chedid, Peter Neuschaefer, Hans-Guenther Jaeger, and Adrian Wood, who is also deputy chairman.
The GBCQ was founded in Doha in December 2002 by private representatives of the German business community in Qatar. As a non-governmental and non-profit association, the council aims to provide a local networking platform for German and local companies in Doha.
The GBCQ organises social and business events on a regular basis for members and non-members.
With premium partner, Qatar International Automobiles (MAN), the GBCQ is managed by the German Industry and Commerce Office Qatar (AHK Qatar), which is the official institution authorised by the German Federal Government and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce to represent the interests of German companies and associations in Qatar.