The sixth meeting of the Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee, under the chairmanship of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reflects the unwavering commitment of the two countries' leadership to enhance bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.
This year's meeting will focus on advancing the strategic partnership in different fields. It will also see both sides exchange views on regional and international issues of joint interest, and sign a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.
The new agreements will touch on a range of fields such as investment and industrial cooperation, commerce, free zones, water resources, and Islamic affairs among others. They will likely bring the total number of agreements signed between both sides to 60.
The two sides sign new agreements every year at the meeting of their joint supreme strategic committee since the meetings first started in 2014. The signing of those agreements reflects the strong intention of both sides to enhance cooperation.
The sixth meeting was preceded by a number of meetings and consultations. The Turkish President visited Doha on Oct. 7 and discussed with HH the Amir strategic bilateral relations and the means to enhance them. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of joint interest.
Qatar and Turkey also held a preparatory ministerial meeting for the sixth session of the Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee in Antalya on Nov. 5. HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani represented the State of Qatar in the meeting, while HE Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu represented the Republic of Turkey.
The Qatari-Turkish Business Forum also took place on Sept. 29 through video conference, where 1500 companies from both countries discussed investment opportunities.
Joint Technical Committee also held yesterday its second meeting through video conference. The meeting discussed issues related to the use of skilled workers from the Republic of Turkey in the State of Qatar, as well as the employment fair in which the Turkish side will display the Turkish labor skills suitable for the Qatari labour market, and coordinate with the Qatar Chamber to hold the exhibition through visual communication technology.
Bilateral ties has seen a noticeable boost recently thanks to the commitment of HH the Amir and the President of Turkey's determination to enhance them, especially that both sides agree on many of the regional and international issues. The supreme strategic committee have also helped grow these ties in many fields. Ties between the two countries have been tested over the past few years, and have proved its resilience with each test.
Trade ties concurrently continue to grow rapidly, with trade volume tripling over the past five years to more than $2 billion in 2019. Turkish products and services are fourth largest on the list of Qatari imports, based on official data for the first six months of this year. The total number of Qatari companies operating in Turkey reached 280, representing the third largest investor in Turkey's construction market. Turkey is also one of the favored destination for Qataris, whether for investment or tourism. Total Qatari investments in Turkey exceed the $22 billion, spread over a number of industries such as tourism, agriculture, energy, defense, banking, and real estate. Meanwhile, there are more than 500 Turkish companies operating in Qatar. There are also more than 11,000 Turkish citizens who live and work in Qatar in different fields. (QNA)
