Qatar’s Ambassador to Georgia, H E Mubarak bin Nasser Al Khalifa
Qatar’s Ambassador to Georgia, H E Mubarak bin Nasser Al Khalifa, has said that Qatari-Georgian relations have improved significantly in all areas in recent years.
“This can be seen in the number of high-level visits exchanged between officials of both countries, as well as agreements and memorandums of understanding that have been signed or are under consideration,” the Ambassador said in an exclusive interview with The Peninsula.
On the prospects of bilateral in other fields, the Ambassador said that there is nothing to prevent the strengthening of relations between Qatar and Georgia in all fields, given the desire of Georgia to expand relations with the largest number of Arab countries, especially the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
Therefore, Al Khalifa noted, there is a possibility to strengthen relations in the field: economic, investment, commercial, tourism, marine transport, environmental, educational and cultural, because this will contribute to the consolidation of relations between the two countries to serve the interests of the two peoples.
Talking on the nature of Qatari investments in Georgia, the Ambassador said Qatari investments (in Georgia) are mostly private and limited investments, concentrated in the real estate sector as it is considered one of the most popular investment sectors in Georgia.
He added that the Qatari investments have witnessed a remarkable increase during the last two years, amounting to about $8m annually, while it was estimated at $2m for the previous years.
About incentives for Qatari investment in Georgia, the Ambassador said that there are facilities provided by the Georgian government to investors, in general, to encourage them to invest in Georgia.
“These include ease procedures and low costs of starting a business, which is accomplished within a few hours at very low costs compared to other countries, and the low level of tax and lower Georgian labour prices play a role in attracting investments to Georgia.”
He said that a delegation from the Qatar Chamber visited Georgia during the period from April 1 to 4, 2014 to participate in the Qatari-Georgian Business Forum.
The forum, the Ambassador said, was attended by senior Georgian officials, including the then Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Qatari delegation met with the Deputy CEO of the Georgian Chamber, Director of the Georgian National Investment Authority, CEO of the Georgian Investment Fund and Head of Marketing Department of the Georgian National Tourism Administration. “The two sides discussed the investment environment and investment opportunities in Georgia.”
He said that the delegation also held meetings with Georgian companies. “A delegation of Georgian businessmen headed by the President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nino Shikovani, visited Doha on October 5, 2016 and held a meeting with the Vice-President of the Qatar Chamber, Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Tawar Al Kuwari.”
Al Khalifa further said that the two sides discussed ways of enhancing economic relations between the two sides, and reviewed the investment opportunities available in the sectors characterized by Georgia, especially in the sectors of tourism, real estate, energy, construction and agriculture.
To a question about most important areas of mutual cooperation and coordination, Al Khalifa said that areas of coordination between Qatar and Georgia at the regional and international levels are cooperation in the fields of international security and peace, as well as joint action on issues of combating terrorism in all its forms. “There is also coordination in the field of supporting the candidates of both countries in international organizations and committees.”
Regarding cultural relations between the two countries, the Ambassador said that every year, Qatar University welcomes Georgian students to the Arabic program for non-native speakers as well other Georgian students also study at various universities in Education City.
He said that the cooperation in the cultural field between the two countries continued as the Georgian Ballet and Folklore band participated in the Cultural Diversity Festival held in Katara in 2016 in coordination with the Qatar National Committee for Education, UNESCO Office in Doha and the Qatar National Committee for Education, Culture and Science.
“The Cultural Village of Katara also organized art exhibition for the Qatari artist Ali Dasmal Al-Kuwari in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, to revive the Gulf’s artistic heritage. The cultural cooperation between the two countries continuing as this cooperation contributes to bringing the cultures of the two peoples closer.”
