A 12-member trade delegation from Italy was hosted by the Qatar Chamber (QC) to met with select Qatar-based entrepreneurs and companies to explore business opportunities in the country. QC board member Mohamed Mahdy al-Ahbabi said both countries are seeking to enhance bilateral economic relations, citing Qatar’s plan to make “huge investments” in various sectors of the “cash-strapped Italian economy,” in the energy, healthcare, and tourism industries.
Al-Ahbabi noted that Italy can contribute to the success of the hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 as he stressed to members of the Italian delegation: “You can help and be present here with logistics and infrastructure companies. Doors for mutual co-operation are widely open. Both sides are invited to discuss how they could co-operate in the mega projects related to developing infrastructure for the preparation for FIFA World Cup in 2022 by contribution in mutual partnerships and direct investments,” al-Ahbabi said. He added that Qatari businessmen are, likewise, eager to explore valid investment opportunities in various sectors of the Italian economy.
Arab-Italian Chamber of Commerce area manager Nicola Castelli noted that the keen interest of QC is a “very good sign” of Qatar’s confidence on the selection of Italian companies visiting the country. “Foreign delegations usually bring high-level proposals or services. But it is high time to be talking about investments and the possibility of something technically longer lasting than just exchange in trade,” said Castelli. He stressed that a previous delegation from Italy that met with QC chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani in October last year has already secured business ties with Qatar firms in the engineering and architecture sector.
Castelli said the delegation is composed of Italian companies from the food and beverage industry and several manufacturers specialised in hand bags, stainless steel and special alloy for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, spectacle blinds, dip rings and forgings for oil and gas piping.
