Turkish ambassador Dr Mustafa Goksu stressed that his country’s relationship with Qatar has moved from bilateral co-operation to the level of strategic partnership, a strong and solid relationship in which the two countries co-operate on many issues at the bilateral, regional and international levels alike.
The upcoming 8th meeting of the Supreme Strategic Committee between Turkiye and Qatar carries great importance in light of the development of Turkish-Qatari relations, since the start of the implementation of this effective mechanism in 2014, he told journalists in Doha.
Dr Goksu hoped that the important meeting will push the strategic relations between the two countries to the widest horizons, and make significant contributions to the diversification and deepening of relations.
He stressed that “both countries have close co-operation in various fields such as economy, trade, tourism and energy, in addition to security, defence, education and culture”.
The ambassador pointed out that since the establishment of the committee, seven meetings have been held in which 83 agreements, protocols, memorandums of understanding and joint statements have been signed.
Dr Goksu added that the number and scope of the signed agreements “illustrate how successful the institutionalisation of the Supreme Strategic Committee as the highest mechanism for our bilateral cooperation has been achieved”.
The Turkish envoy revealed it is expected that about 10 new agreements will be signed in various fields further strengthening the broad partnership between Turkiye and Qatar.
“We are very happy, and very excited that Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the first Islamic country. President Erdogan intends to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Doha on November 20," he said.
“On the instructions of President Erdogan, we fully support Qatar in every area it needs to successfully finalise the event. We appreciate our cooperation in such a mega event, and we are ready to do our best to contribute further to Qatar’s efforts to make this tournament a success. As a clear demonstration of our strong support, more than 2,000 Turkish police will serve in Qatar to secure the tournament, under the FIFA World Cup cooperation protocol”.
“In addition to the defence co-operation in general, the two sides are currently attaching particular importance to security relations, especially with regard to securing World Cup, which represents the most prominent global sporting event in the history of the Gulf and the Middle East,” he said.
Ambassador Dr Goksu expressed his happiness with the current momentum in economic relations, which is reflected in the significant increase in the volume of bilateral trade between Turkiye and Qatar last year.
“According to the figures for the first eight months of 2022, the volume of our trade with Qatar exceeded $1.4bn. Our exports to Qatar exceeded $1bn, and thus increased by 60% compared to the first eight months of 2021, which made Turkey the seventh country from which Qatar imports the most”.
He pointed out that exports exceeded $1bn in the first eight months of 2022, “indicating that our exports increased by more than 200% in the past five years”.
“We have more than 700 Turkish companies operating in Qatar in various sectors, especially the construction sector. There are 200 Qatari companies operating in a wide range of sectors in Turkiye.
“By strengthening our relations, Qatar’s direct investments in Türkiye have increased significantly, and the total balance of Qatari investments in Turkiye has reached $33.2bn.
"The value of the projects carried out by Turkish construction companies in the infrastructure in Qatar amounted to approximately $22bn.
"There is still great untapped potential to further develop our economic and trade relations, especially as the world goes through a period of energy crisis due to many ongoing conflicts, and we would like to improve our cooperation in the energy sector with Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas,” the envoy said.
Dr Goksu also stressed that Turkiye and Qatar share the same goals in support of regional and international stability, which made the two brotherly countries give priority to diplomacy, dialogue and peace. This is reflected in Qatar’s exceptional efforts to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran, and Turkiye's success in releasing the largest number of prisoners, in the prisoner exchange agreement between Ukraine and Russia, which also succeeded in drafting the grain agreement between the two conflicting countries, in cooperation with the United Nations.
The ambassador said the two countries have great ambitions to enhance co-operation in diverse areas of mutual interest.
"Qatar and Turkiye share a common destiny, and their relations are based on firm foundations of mutual respect, sincere brotherhood, standing with the truth, as well as bilateral co-operation and caring for common interests," the envoy added.
Dr Goksu hoped that the important meeting will push the strategic relations between the two countries to the widest horizons, and make significant contributions to the diversification and deepening of relations.
He stressed that “both countries have close co-operation in various fields such as economy, trade, tourism and energy, in addition to security, defence, education and culture”.
The ambassador pointed out that since the establishment of the committee, seven meetings have been held in which 83 agreements, protocols, memorandums of understanding and joint statements have been signed.
Dr Goksu added that the number and scope of the signed agreements “illustrate how successful the institutionalisation of the Supreme Strategic Committee as the highest mechanism for our bilateral cooperation has been achieved”.
The Turkish envoy revealed it is expected that about 10 new agreements will be signed in various fields further strengthening the broad partnership between Turkiye and Qatar.
“We are very happy, and very excited that Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the first Islamic country. President Erdogan intends to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Doha on November 20," he said.
“On the instructions of President Erdogan, we fully support Qatar in every area it needs to successfully finalise the event. We appreciate our cooperation in such a mega event, and we are ready to do our best to contribute further to Qatar’s efforts to make this tournament a success. As a clear demonstration of our strong support, more than 2,000 Turkish police will serve in Qatar to secure the tournament, under the FIFA World Cup cooperation protocol”.
“In addition to the defence co-operation in general, the two sides are currently attaching particular importance to security relations, especially with regard to securing World Cup, which represents the most prominent global sporting event in the history of the Gulf and the Middle East,” he said.
Ambassador Dr Goksu expressed his happiness with the current momentum in economic relations, which is reflected in the significant increase in the volume of bilateral trade between Turkiye and Qatar last year.
“According to the figures for the first eight months of 2022, the volume of our trade with Qatar exceeded $1.4bn. Our exports to Qatar exceeded $1bn, and thus increased by 60% compared to the first eight months of 2021, which made Turkey the seventh country from which Qatar imports the most”.
He pointed out that exports exceeded $1bn in the first eight months of 2022, “indicating that our exports increased by more than 200% in the past five years”.
“We have more than 700 Turkish companies operating in Qatar in various sectors, especially the construction sector. There are 200 Qatari companies operating in a wide range of sectors in Turkiye.
“By strengthening our relations, Qatar’s direct investments in Türkiye have increased significantly, and the total balance of Qatari investments in Turkiye has reached $33.2bn.
"The value of the projects carried out by Turkish construction companies in the infrastructure in Qatar amounted to approximately $22bn.
"There is still great untapped potential to further develop our economic and trade relations, especially as the world goes through a period of energy crisis due to many ongoing conflicts, and we would like to improve our cooperation in the energy sector with Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas,” the envoy said.
Dr Goksu also stressed that Turkiye and Qatar share the same goals in support of regional and international stability, which made the two brotherly countries give priority to diplomacy, dialogue and peace. This is reflected in Qatar’s exceptional efforts to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran, and Turkiye's success in releasing the largest number of prisoners, in the prisoner exchange agreement between Ukraine and Russia, which also succeeded in drafting the grain agreement between the two conflicting countries, in cooperation with the United Nations.
The ambassador said the two countries have great ambitions to enhance co-operation in diverse areas of mutual interest.
"Qatar and Turkiye share a common destiny, and their relations are based on firm foundations of mutual respect, sincere brotherhood, standing with the truth, as well as bilateral co-operation and caring for common interests," the envoy added.