The visit of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Hellenic Republic will contribute to strengthening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani has said.The visit will

diversifyand increase cooperation between Qatar and Greece in economy, investment and trade, Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani has said.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency, the QC chairman said that Qatar and Hellenic Republic have been rapidly growing and developing relations of cooperation, noting the existence of a mutual desire and common keenness to strengthen relations and take them to broader horizons.

He also pointed to the number of mutual visits at the level of leadership,public and private sectors, in addition to the presence of many cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed between them in many sectors.

The volume of trade exchange between the two countries has witnessed remarkable growth over the past years, he said, adding that there are many Greek companies operating in Qatar in multiple economic sectors with full Greek capital or through partnership with Qatari partners.

He said that Greece is a promising destination for investment because of the great investment opportunities available there, noting the keenness of Qatari business owners and investors to learn about the opportunities available there, and to enhance joint cooperation with their Greek counterparts.

He called on businessmen in both countries to explore investment opportunities and enhance cooperation between the Qatari private sector and its Greek counterpart, expressing his confidence that HH the Amir’s visit to Greece will stimulate economic sectors in the two countries to increase cooperation and enhance joint and mutual projects.

It will contribute to increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two friendly countries, which reached about QR 270 million in 2023, he said.

Echoing the same, the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sophia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou affirmed that the visit of HH the Amir to the Hellenic Republic marks a milestone for deepening and expanding bilateral economic relations and raising them to broader horizons.

She said in statements that the visit of HH the Amir would foster new partnerships in areas such as trade and investment, transport, energy, culture, tourism, sport, and other sectors, which increases the opportunities for bilateral cooperation and achieves the common interests of Qatar and Greece.

She said that the visit of HH the Amir to Greece comes after a visit made by the prime pinister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Qatar last February, affirming the mutual keenness of the two countries to enhance cooperation between them.

Regarding the economic relations between Qatar and the Hellenic Republic, Sophia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou said, “The economic relations between Greece and Qatar have been progressively strengthened over the past decades. Both nations recognize the mutual benefits of fostering closer economic ties, leveraging their unique strategic positions and economic strengths.”

She added that Greece, as a member of the European Union (EU), offers Qatar a gateway to European markets, and the strength of the Qatari economy and the international standing of Qatar’s robust energy sector provide Greece with valuable investment opportunities.

“Concerning our trade balance, it has generally been in favor of Qatar due to its substantial energy exports to our country, while Greece exports food products, construction materials, and manufactured goods to Qatar,” she said.

The president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry affirmed in statements to QNA that Greece provides many advantages and investment opportunities in the sectors of trade, investment, transportation, tourism, and other fields in which it has well-honed expertise.

“The Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representing 120.000 enterprises that significantly contribute to Greece’s GDP, actively supports the cooperation between the two countries, and acts as a trustworthy facilitator of networking connections and fruitful cooperation between the two business communities,” Efraimoglou explained.

Regarding the prospects for future cooperation between Qatar and Greece, the President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “Greece and Qatar can build a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership, by focusing on strategic dialogue, robust investment frameworks, energy cooperation, diversified trade, and enriching cultural and educational exchanges.”

She stressed that “this collaboration not only aims to enhance the prosperity and stability of both nations but also contributes to broader regional and global objectives.”

QNA