Officials from Qatar Chamber and Somalia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs held a meeting yesterday in Doha to discuss ways to enhance economic and commercial relations.
Qatar Chamber’s second vice chairman Rashid bin Hamad al-Athba met Somalia Minister for Labour Durran Ahmed Farah and his accompanying delegation in the presence of the Somali embassy’s first counsellor Abib Muse Farah.
The meeting focused on economic and commercial relations between both countries and ways of enhancing them, especially between the private sectors, and measures to promote bilateral trade and investments.
Al-Athba stressed that both countries are associated with strong and close relations. He noted that there is a slew of agreements signed between Qatar and Somalia, such as avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion, encouraging and protecting mutual investments, maritime transport, and economic, trade and technical co-operation and the employment of Somali workers in Qatar.
He said the chamber is keen to enhance economic and commercial co-operation with Somalia, adding that Qatari businessmen are eager to identify the investment opportunities available in the East African country, and that the Qatari economy welcomes Somali products, especially livestock and meat products.
The minister said Somalia is seeking to attract Qatari investors to establish projects supporting the development process of the country and to create jobs for Somali youth.
“There are several sectors in which Qatari businessmen can invest in areas such as agriculture and livestock projects. Somalia is characterised by meat production and livestock, and the government is eager to boost exports of these products to Qatar. Somalia is willing to send more Somalis to Qatar. We are calling the Qatari private sector to employ our people in their businesses and projects,” the minister said.