Qatar Businessmen Association, U.K. Delegation Review Cooperation

Doha, September 30 (QNA) - Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA) on Saturday discussed prospects of mutual cooperation with a U.K. delegation currently visiting Doha and led by HE U.K. Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed chances of forging bilateral partnerships in a number of fields, including management of events and facilities as well as partnerships in the services sector. They also discussed means of benefiting from British expertise in a number of fields in light of Doha's preparations to host the 2022 World Cup. HE Cairns reiterated the U.K.'s commitment to offer more support for the State of Qatar and to work closely with the Qatari private sector to develop economic cooperation between the two countries. For his part, QBA Vice Chairman Hussain Ibrahim Al Fardan reaffirmed the need to continue to monitor the progress of the existing economic ties between the Qatari private sector and work entities in the United Kingdom, calling for more bilateral partnerships so as to benefit both parties. The trade volume between Qatar and the U.K. amounts to more than GBP 5 billion annually and it saw a surge after the business and investment forum that was jointly organized in March. The State of Qatar covers nearly 25 percent of the U.K. current needs of natural gas through South Hook LNG plant in western Wales. (QNA)