Qatari Businessmen Discuss Investment in Wood, Furniture with Jordanian Counterparts

Doha, March 05 (QNA) - Qatar Chamber held a meeting on Tuesday with a Jordanian industrialist’s delegation specialized in wood and furniture, currently visiting Doha and lead by Jordan Chamber of Industry Board Member Eng. Saed Estiteih. During the meeting, the two sides discussed areas of cooperation between the Jordanian companies working in the field of furniture and their counterparts in the State of Qatar and discussed opportunities for partnerships and supply deals between the two sides. Deputy chairman of Qatar-Jordan joint business council Khalifa bin Khamees Mohammed Al Meslmani said investment relations between the businessmen in the two countries have witnessed rapid growth in recent years, where the number of Jordanian companies owned by 100 percent of Jordanian investors in the State of Qatar reached about 13 companies by the end of 2018, with a total capital of QR 43 million. The number of Jordanian Qatari joint companies operating in the State of Qatar reached about 1550 companies, with a total capital of QR 600 million. He added that the volume of trade between the two countries has grown over the past year by 18 percent, reaching about QR 1.3 billion in 2018, compared to QR 1.1 billion in 2017. He said the Qatari economy continues to achieve good growth rates, and that the unjust blockade imposed on the State pushed the Qatari private sector to enter into new production projects, which contributed to the growth of the industrial sector in the State and the establishment of many new factories, especially in the areas of food security. He pointed to the existence of important investment opportunities in the industrial sectors which can attract the attention of Jordanian investors. For his part, Estiteih praised the convergence seen in the private sector in both Qatar and Jordan in light of the desire to develop trade cooperation relations between them and to enter into long-term partnerships between the businessmen of the two countries and to benefit from the cooperation opportunities in light of the major projects seen in the State of Qatar in preparation for 2022 FIFA World Cup. He said the delegation represents a number of major companies in the furniture sector in Jordan, seeking to establish deals and partnerships with the Qatari side and participate in the Jordan Today Expo which will be held in the coming days in Doha, with the participation of nearly 100 Jordanian companies. Head of the Jordan Furniture Exporters and Manufacturers Association Samer Al Katbi presented the association's activities which covers more than 100 companies operating in the wood and furniture industries, aiming to increase the Jordanian exports of this industry. He stressed the keenness of the members of the association to identify the Qatari market and consult with their Qatari counterparts on opportunities for partnership and business in the two countries. (QNA)