Egyptian Pres. meets Qatari business personnel

DOAH, April 14 (KUNA) -- President of Egypt Abdulfattah Al-Sisi met late Sunday with a number of Qatari businesspersons and CEOs of major Qatari companies during his official visit to the country, said a media source.
According to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), President Al-Sisi emphasized the Egyptian leadership's keenness to expand cooperation between the two countries, stressing the importance of enhancing joint action to advance the strategic partnership.
For his part, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassem Al-Thani welcomed the visiting President emphasizing the depth of the solid relations, which were based on long-standing historical and strategic foundations.
He pointed out that these relations have witnessed significant development during the recent period thanks to the shared will of the leaderships of the two countries to move forward in developing and diversifying cooperation to ensure a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammad Al-Sayed highlighted that the meeting served as a strategic platform to enhance economic cooperation in light of the significant development in bilateral relations.
He pointed out that trade exchange between the two countries has grown annually by 50 percent over the past four years.
He emphasized the importance of the private sector as a key partner in driving investment and opening new avenues for joint cooperation.
The minister affirmed that Qatar continued its efforts to expand economic and trade cooperation, enhancing investment opportunities with countries in the region and around the world to achieve mutual benefits and deepen bilateral partnerships through providing advanced infrastructure, simplifying trade procedures, and encouraging investments in line with the objectives of Qatar's Third National Development Strategy.
He stressed the need for intensified joint efforts and continuous work to elevate trade exchange between Qatar and Egypt, enhance the integration of the private sectors in both countries, and establish strategic partnerships that support sustainable economic development to serve the interests of both nations.
The minister also referenced the bilateral agreements signed between Qatar and Egypt in recent years, which have laid the foundation for strengthening investor confidence on both sides.
Notable agreements include the Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation Agreement, the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments, and the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation.
He also pointed out that both sides are currently preparing to begin negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to open broader opportunities for the flow of goods and services and expand markets for investors in both countries.
In his speech, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem Al-Thani emphasized the importance of boosting trade between Qatar and Egypt and raising it to levels that reflect the great potential of both countries.
He highlighted the strong relationship between the Qatar Chamber and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, as well as the active role it plays in enhancing cooperation between the business communities of the two nations.
He called on Qatari businessmen to take advantage of the promising investment opportunities in the Egyptian market and urged Egyptian investors to explore the benefits of Qatar's developed investment environment, including its modern infrastructure and supportive legislative framework for economic growth.
The meeting also included a series of interventions from private sector representatives, businessmen, and major companies in Qatar, addressing ways to further enhance economic cooperation and achieve integration in future investment projects between the two countries. (end) sss.gta