Economy Minister Stresses Need to Boost Economic Relations between Qatar and Kyrgyzstan

Doha, March 14 (QNA) - HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani has stressed the need to further strengthen economic relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.   His Excellency was addressing the first session of the Qatari-Kyrgyz Joint Committee on Economic, Commercial and Technical Cooperation, which was held in Doha over two days. The first session was chaired by HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce and HE Minister of Economy of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Arzybek Kozhoshev.   During the session, the two sides held official talks and reviewed aspects of cooperation in various sectors of mutual interest for both countries.   In his speech, HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani said the organization of this meeting reflects the mutual keenness of the two countries to cement bilateral relations and push them to new heights in all fields to meet the joint aspirations and serve the common interests of the two countries. HE the Minister noted that relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kyrgyzstan have witnessed significant progress thanks to the wise directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HE President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev.   He pointed out that these relations have a promising future and will be further strengthened and expanded, stressing that the current data gives confidence that the Qatari-Kyrgyz cooperation has a promising future in view of the possibilities and capabilities enjoyed by the two sides, a matter which pushes them to provide the appropriate climate to achieve higher rates of trade exchange.   In order to achieve this, HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce called for further efforts to improve economic relations, expand and diversify trade and investment partnerships, while giving priority to investment in areas that constitute a qualitative addition to the Qatari economy. HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani highlighted the crucial role that the chambers of commerce and industry in the two countries can play in order to promote and develop cooperation between the private sector and businessmen from both sides, especially in light of important agreements that have been signed which provided an incentive legal framework for the establishment of joint investment ventures to benefit the economies of both countries.   His Excellency said that the National Vision 2030 pursued by the State of Qatar in order to diversify sources of income and decrease dependency on oil and gas resources contributed significantly to the implementation of a range of programs and policies aimed at strengthening the role of the private sector in the economic development process. The State issued appropriate laws and legislations which facilitated the procedures of doing business and economic activities and provided attractive investment environment for various projects.   Talking about the current conditions in the global economy in the light of oil price fluctuations and declining growth rates, HE the Minister called for joint efforts to come out with initiatives that will enhance the performance of the two economies, and support their ability to address these global challenges.   At the conclusion of his speech, HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce expressed his confidence that the meeting would represent an opportunity to develop practical mechanisms for boosting economic cooperation and raising the volume of trade and investment so as to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.   At the first day of the session, the two sides reviewed ties of cooperation in many fields, including economy, trade, investment, agriculture, transport, health, education, science and technology and culture.   The two sides agreed to take steps to strengthen and develop economic relations in order to increase the volume of trade between them and to facilitate the flow of goods, services and investments between the two countries.   At the end of the first session of the Qatari-Kyrgyz Joint Committee on Economic, Commercial and Technical Cooperation, HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani and HE Minister of Economy of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Arzybek Kozhoshev signed the minutes of the meeting. (END)