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QBA Explores Investment and Trade Cooperation Opportunities with Australia
Upon receiving the Agent-General for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and the Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Europe, Trade and Investment Queensland
Qatari Businessmen Association Explores Investment and Trade Cooperation Opportunities with Australia
Doha – Qatar
The Qatari Businessmen Association met today with Mr. Ross Buchanan, the Agent-General for the UK and Northern Ireland and Senior Commissioner Europe, Trade and Investment Queensland, who is currently visiting the country. The meeting focused on exploring trade and investment relations between Qatar and Australia, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Shane Flanagan, the Australian Ambassador to the State of Qatar.
From the Qatari Businessmen Association, the meeting was attended by H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, QBA Chairman, and QBA members Sheikh Mansour bin Jassim Al Thani, Mr. Salah Al Jaidah, Mr. Khalid Al Mannai, and Mr. Ihsan Alkhiyami, along with Ms. Sarah Abdallah, QBA Deputy General Manager.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Ross Buchanan thanked QBA for organizing this meeting, highlighting that the trade volume between Australia and Qatar had doubled (a 100% increase) in the past year, which reflects the mutual commitment to enhancing economic growth. He also pointed out that Qatar Airways plays a key role in developing relations between the two countries by promoting travel and tourism, facilitating trade exchange and official delegations, thereby strengthening cooperation and expanding areas of partnership.
Buchanan emphasized that Australia is set to host the 2032 Olympic Games and offers diverse investment opportunities in sports, construction, and the tourism sector. He highlighted that Qatar had successfully hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has valuable expertise that could benefit the planning and execution of the Olympic Games in Australia.
Investment Opportunities
For his part, H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association, expressed optimism about a better future for bilateral relations between the two countries and confirmed QBA’s interest in cooperating with Australia to increase investments.
He praised the strong bilateral relations between Qatar and Australia, stating that the Association is ready to make an official visit to Australia to explore potential investment opportunities, particularly in light of the incentives, benefits, and facilities provided for foreign investment. He noted that such conditions would encourage both Qatari and Australian companies to explore opportunities and strengthen cooperation, positively impacting economic activity and increasing trade exchange between the two countries.
Close Relations
H.E. Mr. Shane Flanagan, Ambassador of Australia to Qatar, praised the close and fruitful trade relations between Australia and Qatar, emphasizing the need for both sides to work toward further enhancing them.
He added: “We were greatly honored by the visit of H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Australia in August 2024. It was the first visit by a Qatari Prime Minister to Australia. We look forward to building on that momentum with more cooperation in 2025.”
Ambassador Flanagan explained that Australia and Qatar cooperate in areas such as food security, industry, and renewable energy. He expressed Australia's interest in developing new opportunities in the future, including increased collaboration between universities and cooperation in the fields of technology and cybersecurity.
He also pointed to potential cooperation in the sports sector as Australia prepares to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Doha prepares to host the 2030 Asian Games.
Mr. Salah Al Jaidah also stressed the importance of increasing trade visits between the two sides to bring businesspeople closer together and better identify sectors of investment and available opportunities. He pointed to several economic sectors of mutual interest to both the Qatari and Australian private sectors, including tourism, digital transformation, services, and the oil and gas industry.