His Excellency Mr. Omar Bolat, the Turkish Minister of Commerce, recently extolled the robust strategic relations between the State of Qatar and Turkey. The minister’s commendations came during a press conference in Doha, where he was attending the Expo Qatar 2023. The event is a significant international exhibition that has attracted a large delegation from Turkey, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The minister emphasized the deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership between the two nations, attributing the flourishing relationship to the mutual concerns and generosity of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and his counterpart, President Erdogan. The upcoming meeting of the Supreme Strategic Committee between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey, scheduled for next December, was highlighted as a pivotal event that will further cement the bilateral relations.
Mr. Bolat expressed profound gratitude for Qatar’s unwavering support for Turkey, particularly during challenging times. He cited the devastating earthquake that struck 11 provinces in Turkey, causing significant loss of life, as an instance where the State of Qatar stood in solidarity with Turkey.
The minister also spoke highly of the Expo Qatar 2023, stating that Turkey is participating with a large pavilion covering an area of 1,024 square meters. He lauded Qatar’s organizational prowess, citing the country’s successful hosting of major global events like the 2022 World Cup. The Expo, he said, will focus on critical global challenges such as climate change and aims to deepen the green transformation.
On the economic front, the minister revealed that trade between the two countries reached $2.1 billion last year. He noted that 727 Turkish companies are currently operating in Qatar, having successfully implemented projects worth up to $1 billion. Conversely, nearly 200 Qatari companies are active in Turkey, with Qatari investments in the country exceeding $10 billion.
In response to questions about recent racist incidents in Turkey, the minister expressed regret but downplayed the events as isolated incidents. He emphasized that Turkey, which welcomed 56 million tourists this year, is committed to ensuring the safety of all visitors.
While the focus remains on Qatar-Turkey relations, it’s worth noting that Qatar has also been strengthening its ties with other countries. For instance, a recent Gulf Times article reported on a Qatari-Kazakh joint higher committee meeting that discussed cooperation in various sectors. Another Gulf Times piece highlighted the strong and balanced commercial and investment relations between Qatar and the United Kingdom.
