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A delegation from the Qatar Chamber and the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) recently conducted a three-day business visit to Bordeaux in southwestern France.The visit, held at the invitation of Qatar’s ambassador to France, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani, and organised in co-operation with the French Qatari Economic Association (CADRAN), aimed to further strengthen bilateral ties between both countries and promote economic cooperation with all French cities.As part of the programme, the delegation toured several industrial sites and leading companies, including the headquarters of Thales Group and Olikrom, a French company specialised in smart colour-changing materials. They also visited prominent research centres in Bordeaux to explore opportunities for cooperation and investment.The visit witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Qatar Chamber and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bordeaux-Gironde. The agreement, signed by Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bordeaux-Gironde chairman Patrick Seguin, in the presence of Sheikh Ali, aims to strengthen economic relations and open new horizons for collaboration between the two sides.During the visit, a business roundtable was held to discuss cooperation opportunities between Qatari and French companies. The session also introduced the city of Bordeaux, its suburbs, and the Gironde region, highlighting their leading economic sectors. It also reviewed Qatar’s business environment, investment climate, and available opportunities in both countries, with a focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade and investment.Sheikh Khalifa praised the close ties between Qatar and France, affirming that France is a trusted and strategic partner. He emphasised that their relationship goes beyond diplomacy, representing a dynamic partnership built on trust, shared vision, and proven success. He also emphasised that the Qatar Chamber is committed to establishing partnerships with the French private sector based on trust, value creation, and sustainability.“From real estate to sports, and hospitality to innovation, Qatari investments in France are significant and growing, while the interest from French companies in Qatar’s vibrant market is stronger than ever. Trade exchange between the two countries has reached substantial levels, exceeding €1.3bn last year, making France an important trading partner for the State of Qatar,” Sheikh Khalifa said.Sheikh Khalifa said Qatar has established a robust business environment aimed at attracting and empowering partners. He invited French business leaders to visit Qatar to experience firsthand the country’s development and investment opportunities.For his part, Seguin praised the strong ties between the two sides, noting that the meeting represents an important step towards enhancing cooperation between the business sectors of Qatar and France. He also highlighted the investment climate and advantages in Bordeaux, as well as opportunities in key sectors including aviation, artificial intelligence, and technology.Sheikh Ali highlighted the complementary strengths of Qatar and Bordeaux, noting that Bordeaux’s expertise in advanced technologies, environmentally friendly industries, and key sectors, such as health, security, and tourism, combined with Qatar’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and ambitious economic diversification programme, create numerous promising opportunities for cooperation.He added that the visit provides a valuable platform to explore these opportunities and marks the beginning of successful partnerships and business alliances between the two sides.Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani, QBA board member, praised the strong relations between Qatar and France and expressed the shared desire to further develop them. He noted the significant potential for growth within this partnership, particularly in light of France’s economic recovery plan, reduced inflation, and the shift towards an innovative and sustainable digital economy, where Qatari investments play an important role.Sheikh Nawaf also emphasised Qatar’s remarkable progress across legislative, logistical, and infrastructure fronts, which positions the country as an attractive destination for French investors, offering substantial incentives and proximity to major regional markets.He highlighted Bordeaux’s unique investment advantages, noting its prominence in air navigation and aviation, renewable energy, technology, smart cities, textiles, food industries, and artificial intelligence.Sheikh Nawaf said the QBA, through a network of investors, major companies, and committed businessmen, seeks to strengthen the private sector’s role and establish genuine partnerships with French counterparts in both Doha and France. He also affirmed the QBA’s readiness to explore all available investment opportunities in Qatar and France.The business delegation attended a gala dinner held at the Bordeaux-Gironde Chamber of Commerce and Industry, bringing together members of the delegation with economic officials from Bordeaux.In his remarks at the dinner, Sheikh Ali highlighted that the visit reflects a shared ambition to deepen economic relations between Qatar and France. He emphasised that the goal is to foster sustainable partnerships between companies and institutions, explore co-investment opportunities, and facilitate the exchange of expertise across a range of vital sectors.

A Qatari economic delegation visited the city of Bordeaux in southwest France as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Qatar and France and to expand economic ties with various French regions.The delegation was led by His Excellency Chairman of the Qatar Chamber (QC) Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani, and His Excellency Board Member of the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al-Thani. The visit was organized at the invitation of Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar's Ambassador to France, and in cooperation with the Qatari-French Economic Circle (Cadran). The visit included tours of key industrial sites and major companies, such as the headquarters of Thales Group and Olicrom, a French company specializing in smart color-changing materials, as well as visits to several research centers in Bordeaux and its surrounding areas. During the trip, the Qatar Chamber and the Bordeaux Gironde Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a cooperation agreement to enhance economic relations and open new opportunities for collaboration. The agreement was signed by Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani and Patrick Seguin, President of the Bordeaux Chamber, in the presence of Qatar's Ambassador to France. The Qatari delegation also participated in a business roundtable to discuss cooperation opportunities between Qatari and French companies, introduce Bordeaux, the Gironde region, and their leading economic sectors, and present Qatar's business climate and the investment opportunities available in both countries. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani emphasized the close relationship between the two friendly countries, describing France as a trusted strategic partner for Qatar. He noted that cooperation between the two countries goes beyond traditional diplomacy to reflect a partnership based on trust, shared vision, and achievements.He highlighted the significant growth of Qatari investments in France in diverse sectors including real estate, sports, hospitality, and innovation, and pointed out the increasing interest of French companies in entering the Qatari market. He added that bilateral trade exceeded 1.3 billion Euros last year. He also praised Bordeaux as a global center for advanced industries such as aerospace, defense, high technology, and logistics, fields that align with Qatar's priorities for building a diversified, knowledge-based, and sustainable economy. Patrick Seguin highlighted the importance of this meeting as an important step toward strengthening business cooperation between Qatar and France. His Excellency the Ambassador said that the State of Qatar and the Bordeaux region share complementary strengths, with Bordeaux's expertise in advanced technologies, environmentally friendly industries, and key sectors such as health, security, and tourism combining with Qatar's strategic location, modern infrastructure, and ambitious economic diversification program to create many promising opportunities for collaboration. He explained that this visit provides a valuable opportunity to explore these possibilities and begin successful commercial partnerships between the two sides. His Excellency Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al-Thani praised the strength of Qatar-France relations and the desire of both countries to further develop them. He noted that the frequent official visits by leaders and private sector representatives from both countries demonstrate their commitment to advancing bilateral relations to a model level. He also highlighted Qatar's major progress in legislation, logistics, and infrastructure, along with its significant investment incentives and geographic proximity to large regional markets. He affirmed that the Qatari Businessmen Association is ready to explore all available investment opportunities in both Qatar and France. The association aims, through a group of investors and major companies, to strengthen the role of the private sector and establish genuine partnerships with the French private sector in both countries. This effort seeks to diversify joint investments in key economic sectors, expand economic, technical, and scientific cooperation, and facilitate the exchange of information between Qatar and France.

Al Wakrah (TM Fred Texas), a seasoned 7-year-old Purebred Arabian mare, showed her class once again to win the Gr.2 (PA) French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Sprint over 1400m at Bordeaux on Monday evening. The race drew eight runners, but Al Wakrah’s experience and determination secured her another Group (PA) title by the narrowest of margins. Trained by Jean De Mieulle, ridden by Olivier d’Andigné, and carrying the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, Al Wakrah added to an already impressive record that includes victory in the Gr.3 (PA) Premio UAE President Cup at San Sebastián in her previous outing, a second-place finish in a Gr.2 (PA) in Germany and a Gr.1 (PA) winner in the Qatar International Cup over 1400m at Al Uqda. This marks her fifth Group (PA) success. Soon in midfield in a race led by Zakyna Al Zarayan (Al Mamun Monlau), Al Wakrah was positioned just ahead of her main danger, Haseef (Al Mourtajez), owned by Wathnan Racing. The early tempo was even, but not fast, with Al Wakrah travelling smoothly in fifth while a small break formed behind her where Haseef and Ghaidaa (Muraaqib) raced at the rear. As the sprint began approaching the final stretch, Al Wakrah was switched to the outside and ridden forward while Kamun Du Nil (Al Mamun Monlau) briefly took the lead. Moving quickly into second with only one left to pass, she accelerated strongly inside the final 200m, taking the lead. D’Andigné looked to his right for a challenger, but danger came on his left as Haseef surged late, finishing strongly, but failing by a short head. Al Wakrah held on gamely, Haseef finished second and Ghaidaa ran on for third. Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Al Wakrah is out of Majida (Majd Al Arab), runner-up in a Listed (PA) race over 1400m at five and third in a Gr.3 (PA) over 2000m at four. She is a half-sister to Ghadah (Azadi), winner of a Gr.1 (PA) over 2000m at four and a Gr.3 (PA) over the same distance, and to Subahiyah (Mahabb), third in a Gr.1 (PA)over 2000m at three.