QBA Explores Trade and Investment opportunities with Turkey
The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) received yesterday a business delegation from Turkey headed by Mr. Abdullah Altunkum, Chairman of the Turkish – Qatari Business Council at (DEIK), in the presence of H.E. Dr. Mustafa Goksu, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Qatar.
The delegation was received by H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, QBA Chairman, in the presence of QBA members: Mr. Salah Al Jaidah, Mr. Nabil Abu Issa, Mr. Maqbool Khalfan, Mr. Hakan Ozdemir, and Mr. Ihsan Alkhiyami. The meeting was also attended by Mrs. Sarah Abdallah, QBA General Manager, and a number of representatives from Qatari and Turkish companies.
At the beginning of the meeting, H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani noted the strong relations between Qatar and Turkey, which have seen remarkable growth in recent years across all fields, particularly on the trade and economic fronts. He added that these ties are rooted in the close relationship between the leaderships of both countries, which has produced numerous cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding. He highlighted that this visit holds special significance as the first by a trade delegation since last March, coming amid the current situation in the region. He affirmed that Qatari businessmen are eager to deepen cooperation with their Turkish counterparts and build effective alliances and partnerships between companies from both sides.
Fruitful Cooperation
H.E. Dr. Mustafa Goksu, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Qatar, stated that this visit reflects the depth of the strategic partnership between the two countries and sends a clear message of strong cooperation between their business communities. He noted that the joint council, alongside other committees, has helped strengthen ties through diverse initiatives and coordinated policies across a wide range of fields.
He added: "We have witnessed remarkable progress in trade and investment, as both countries have become key partners in each other's economic landscape, with bilateral trade volume multiplying several times over in recent years." H.E. the Ambassador called on Qatari investors to continue expanding their presence in the Turkish market, stressing that Turkey's investment climate offers a safe and thriving environment, and emphasizing the importance of joint coordination to explore new markets together.
A Strategic Platform
From his side, Mr. Abdullah Altunkum, Chairman of the Turkish-Qatari Business Council, explained that the Council serves as a joint strategic platform established to strengthen economic relations and grow trade between the two countries, with a focus on facilitating investments and private sector partnerships in the energy, construction, and technology sectors. He invited QBA members to visit Turkey to explore available investment opportunities, particularly in infrastructure, tourism, technology, and healthcare, and to consider establishing joint ventures targeting the GCC, Syria, and African markets, where significant investment opportunities exist.
In the same context, Mr. Salah Al Jaida, member of the Qatar Businessmen Association, affirmed that Turkey is a distinguished investment destination for Qataris, and that Qatar ranks among the top foreign investors in Turkey. He noted that Qatari investments are not limited to the government level but extend to the private sector across tourism, retail, and financial sectors. He also pointed to the broad Turkish presence in the Qatari market, which includes hundreds of companies operating in trade, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, services, and hospitality, some with full Turkish capital and others in partnership with Qatari firms.