Berlin: HE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed participated Wednesday in the annual Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Forum in Berlin, featuring large participation from major German companies across multiple sectors. A ministry statement said the event aims to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors and provide an ideal platform for communication and building strategic partnerships that support the growth of SMEs and contribute to achieving sustainable development.
According to Qatar News Agency, in his speech during the opening session of the forum, HE Al Sayed stressed the keenness of the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Germany to enhance economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries, pointing to the remarkable growth in the volume of trade between the two sides, which amounted to more than USD10 billion over the past five years. He also pointed out that the Qatar Investment Authority has investments amounting to more than USD14 billion in leading German companies such as Siemens, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Deutsche Bank, in addition to the presence of 342 German companies operating in Qatar.
His Excellency highlighted the vital role played by SMEs in the Qatari economy, representing 98 percent of private companies in the country, most of which rely on non-hydrocarbon sectors. He added that these companies contribute 10 percent of Qatar’s GDP and provide 15 percent of job opportunities. His Excellency explained that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to this sector within the framework of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its Third Development Strategy, working to provide a supportive environment for it by modernizing regulations, developing and diversifying the business environment, and offering incentives to investors.
His Excellency called on German businessmen to explore the investment opportunities available in Qatar, particularly in the fields of infrastructure and technology, stressing that Qatar is an ideal destination for investors seeking new opportunities. On the sidelines of the forum, HE Al Sayed inaugurated the State of Qatar’s pavilion, organized by the German Mittelstand German SMEs (BVMW) in cooperation with the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Germany. His Excellency and the accompanying Qatari delegation toured the pavilions exhibiting German SMEs.
His Excellency also held bilateral meetings with a number of German officials, including HE State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Udo Philipp, HE State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Jochen Flasbarth, BVMW Chairman Christoph Ahlhaus. The meetings discussed ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
On the sidelines of the forum was held a discussion session on investments between Qatar and Germany, addressing topics such as doing business in Qatar and foreign investment opportunities in Germany. The Qatari delegation, which included representatives from the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar, the Free Zones Authority, Qatar Development Bank, the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council, and the Qatar Financial Centre, delivered presentations on opportunities and initiatives that contribute to attracting investment and promoting innovation and development across various sectors.
HE Al Sayed accompanied the Qatari delegation on a visit to the ZEKI Artificial Intelligence Center at the Technische Universitat Berlin (TU Berlin) and was briefed on the advanced services the center provides, including advanced technology solutions and innovative services in the field of AI and digitization.