Qatar-Ukraine partnership is witnessing “dynamic growth” with official statistics placing bilateral trade at almost $150mn in 2020, which is more than double over 2018, while the volume of Ukrainian exports to Qatar in the same period exceeded 2019 figures by 75%, the Qatar-Ukraine Business Forum (QUBF) reported Wednesday at the Qatar Trade Summit 2021.
Keynoting the event, QUBF founder and chairperson Dr Olga Revina said the basket of Ukraine exports to Qatar comprise ferrous metals (40.4%), cereals (17.8%), fats and oils (17.7%), food industry residues (9.1%), milk, dairy products, poultry eggs (3.6%), ferrous metal products (2.6%), tobacco (1.4%), and meat and offal (1%).
On the other hand, Qatar exports to Ukraine are plastics, polymeric materials (79.7%), organic chemical compounds (10.8%), products of inorganic chemistry (8.5%), and textile materials (0.6%).
According to Revina, Qatar-based QUBF aims to support the fostering of Qatar-Ukraine trade and investment, transferring innovations and technologies, exchanging knowledge and expertise, and promoting a positive image for both countries. QUBF has a well-established collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine to the State of Qatar and other prominent organisations in both countries, Revina stressed.
She said Qatar-Ukraine projects currently in progress are distributed in the following industries and sectors: maritime, seaport, renewable energy, agri-food, amber, and tech-innovation.
In the maritime transport, Revina said Qatari firm QTerminals signed a concession agreement of the Ukrainian Seaport Olvia for 35 years until 2056.
“QTerminals will invest about $140mn to develop the port, restore infrastructure of the local city, establish a new equipped grain terminal, improve warehouses, modernise roads and telecommunications networks, and enhance operations, navigation, and logistics. The Port of Olvia will become an international trade hub and leverage Qatar's competitiveness on the world map,” said Revina.
On Qatar-Ukraine agri-food sector, Revina said there is “an expressed intention” of Qatari food marker players like Baladna and Widam Food with prospects to invest in Ukraine’s agricultural projects. QUBF facilitates collaboration between Lari Group Qatar with diversified Ukrainian food suppliers, she also said.
In the field of renewable energy, Revina said an agreement was signed between Ukrainian companies UDP Renewables and UFUTURE, and Qatari firm Nebras Power for the acquisition of six operating solar power plants in Ukraine to produce more than 700GWh of clean electricity annually, develop and invest in Ukraine’s greenfield and brownfield energy projects, reduce carbon footprint, develop wind power generation, and contribute to a healthy environment.
Revina also said Katara – The Cultural Village and the Ukrainian Amber World Association have signed an MoU to jointly develop Qatar’s amber industry. Other milestones include the collaboration between Alfardan Group and Ambra Simha Group in Ukraine.
Another aspect of Qatar-Ukraine amber partnership is the knowledge transfer of Ukraine’s expertise and innovation in amber, and the staging of an exclusive Ukraine Amber Exhibition in Qatar to promote the amber culture.
Keynoting the event, QUBF founder and chairperson Dr Olga Revina said the basket of Ukraine exports to Qatar comprise ferrous metals (40.4%), cereals (17.8%), fats and oils (17.7%), food industry residues (9.1%), milk, dairy products, poultry eggs (3.6%), ferrous metal products (2.6%), tobacco (1.4%), and meat and offal (1%).
On the other hand, Qatar exports to Ukraine are plastics, polymeric materials (79.7%), organic chemical compounds (10.8%), products of inorganic chemistry (8.5%), and textile materials (0.6%).
According to Revina, Qatar-based QUBF aims to support the fostering of Qatar-Ukraine trade and investment, transferring innovations and technologies, exchanging knowledge and expertise, and promoting a positive image for both countries. QUBF has a well-established collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine to the State of Qatar and other prominent organisations in both countries, Revina stressed.
She said Qatar-Ukraine projects currently in progress are distributed in the following industries and sectors: maritime, seaport, renewable energy, agri-food, amber, and tech-innovation.
In the maritime transport, Revina said Qatari firm QTerminals signed a concession agreement of the Ukrainian Seaport Olvia for 35 years until 2056.
“QTerminals will invest about $140mn to develop the port, restore infrastructure of the local city, establish a new equipped grain terminal, improve warehouses, modernise roads and telecommunications networks, and enhance operations, navigation, and logistics. The Port of Olvia will become an international trade hub and leverage Qatar's competitiveness on the world map,” said Revina.
On Qatar-Ukraine agri-food sector, Revina said there is “an expressed intention” of Qatari food marker players like Baladna and Widam Food with prospects to invest in Ukraine’s agricultural projects. QUBF facilitates collaboration between Lari Group Qatar with diversified Ukrainian food suppliers, she also said.
In the field of renewable energy, Revina said an agreement was signed between Ukrainian companies UDP Renewables and UFUTURE, and Qatari firm Nebras Power for the acquisition of six operating solar power plants in Ukraine to produce more than 700GWh of clean electricity annually, develop and invest in Ukraine’s greenfield and brownfield energy projects, reduce carbon footprint, develop wind power generation, and contribute to a healthy environment.
Revina also said Katara – The Cultural Village and the Ukrainian Amber World Association have signed an MoU to jointly develop Qatar’s amber industry. Other milestones include the collaboration between Alfardan Group and Ambra Simha Group in Ukraine.
Another aspect of Qatar-Ukraine amber partnership is the knowledge transfer of Ukraine’s expertise and innovation in amber, and the staging of an exclusive Ukraine Amber Exhibition in Qatar to promote the amber culture.
