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Tribune news network
doha
Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed al Thani has praised the economic relations between Qatar and Belgium at the Second Qatari- Belgian Economic Forum in Brussels on Wednesday.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the forum, Sheikh Ahmed stressed the depth of the bilateral relations, which he said, were established and strengthened through the exchange of official visits between the two countries.
He referred to the recent visit by HRH Princess Astrid to Qatar, representing the King of Belgium, which formed the luminous station on the road to strengthening the distinct ties between the two countries.
In addition to bilateral agreements, which included many areas, Princess Astrid's visit has contributed to strengthen the cooperation in various fields especially in economic, trade and investment fields, which reflected positively on the level of commercial exchanges between the two countries, Sheikh Ahmed added.
He noted that the volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Belgium reached in $1.6 billion in 2015, an increase of 1 percent from 2014, as exports from Qatar to Belgium in 2015 amounted to about $ 1.3 billion, and the volume of direct imports to Qatar from Belgium rose by 7.3 percent compared to 2014 to reach $264 million in 2015.
The minister also highlighted the role played by the Belgian companies in the completion of several development projects in Qatar. He said around 31 Belgian companies are operating in Qatar.
Sheikh Ahmed also reviewed the growth rates achieved by the Qatari economy during the year 2015, praising the advanced ranks achieved by Qatar in various global indices, including the Global Competitiveness Index, in which Qatar occupies, the first among Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa and the 14th in the world.
In the context of talking about the current conditions in the global economy, given the volatility of oil prices and declining growth rates, he called to join efforts to get out of investment partnerships that will enhance immunity to both country's economy.
Concluding, the Minister of Economy and Commerce expressed hope that the forum would contribute to increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, as well as establishing effective partnerships and new investments between Qatari businessmen and their Belgian counterparts.
