'Qatar-Belgium Business Meeting reviews bilateral investment co-operation'

28/04/2025 02:50 AST

Qatar Chamber hosted the Qatar-Belgium Business Meeting Sunday to explore ways of strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries.

The Qatari side was led by Dr Khalid bin Klefeekh al-Hajri, Qatar Chamber board member, while the Belgian side was led by Isabelle Grippa, CEO of hub.brussels, the Brussels Agency for Entrepreneurship.

The meeting was attended by Qatar Chamber board member Ali bin Abdullatif al-Misnad and Belgian ambassador William Asselborn, along with members of the Belgian delegation, and a number of Qatari businessmen.

The meeting also reviewed the investment climate and opportunities available in both Qatar and Belgium, particularly in key sectors, such as healthcare, education, information technology, legal consultancy, aviation, glass and metal manufacturing, trade and retail, smart buildings, and environmental consultancy. Both sides further explored the prospects of establishing joint ventures and strategic business alliances between Qatari and Belgian companies.

Al-Hajri emphasised the strong and growing trade relations between Qatar and Belgium, noting that trade volume reached QR4.6bn last year. He highlighted the presence of many Belgian companies operating in the Qatari market across various sectors, either through full Belgian ownership or in partnership with Qatari firms. He also pointed out the existence of several successful Qatari investments in Belgium, particularly in the energy sector. He also pointed out the longstanding co-operation in the natural gas sector, with Qatar being the main supplier to Belgium's Zeebrugge LNG terminal.

He urged Belgian companies to invest in Qatar, citing the country's favourable business climate and infrastructure, and encouraged Qatari investors to explore opportunities in Belgium. He reaffirmed Qatar Chamber's commitment to fostering partnerships and business alliances between the two nations across various sectors.

Grippa said the Belgian delegation included many companies eager to collaborate with their Qatari counterparts. She expressed confidence that the visit would be fruitful, especially since there are broad opportunities for co-operation and establishing successful partnerships. She also emphasised the Belgian side's commitment to enhancing co-operation with Qatar across all fields, particularly in economic and commercial sectors.

Al-Misnad said the business sectors in Qatar are willing to co-operate with their Belgian counterparts. He highlighted that the Belgian delegation includes several prominent companies operating across various sectors in Belgium, offering Qatari businessmen a valuable opportunity to engage with them, enhance cooperation, and capitalise on available opportunities.

He emphasised that many sectors of priority to Qatari businessmen align with those highlighted in the country's strategic plans under the Qatar National Vision 2030, such as the industrial sector, technology, logistics, oil and gas, among others. He further noted that the Qatari private sector is keen to establish genuine partnerships with its counterparts worldwide, including the Belgian private sector.

Asselborn commended the strong ties between the two friendly nations. He noted that the Belgian trade delegation is the largest to visit Qatar in the past decade, consisting of 44 companies representing a wide range of sectors. He stressed that there are substantial opportunities to further enhance trade and economic co-operation between the business communities of both countries.

During the meeting, a presentation was delivered by the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) on Qatar's investment climate and opportunities, while the Belgian delegation also provided insights into the investment climate and opportunities available in Belgium.

Gulf Times