​On the sidelines of the Hannover Fair 2018H.E Minister of Economy and Commerce meets with Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy
 
H.E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, met on Sunday, April 22, 2018, with H.E Mr. Peter Altmaier, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Qatar’s participation in Hannover Fair 2018.
Discussions touched on the promotion of Qatari-German bilateral relations and joint cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade and investment fields. Discussions also touched on Qatar’s economic development over the past years and reviewed investment opportunities across various sectors as well as initiatives launched by Qatar to support the private sector and enhance its contribution to the overall economic development of the country and the increase in foreign investments.
Discussions also touched on Qatar’s excellent logistic services such as Hamad port and the economic zones, which would attract foreign investments. Officials also discussed preparations for the joint Qatari-German committee’s meeting, proposing that the meeting takes place in Berlin at the end of 2018. H.E the Minister of Economy and Commerce also touched on the timing of a Qatari-German Business and Investment Forum will be held in Germany.
Qatar and Germany enjoy close economic and trade relations that reflected positively on the volume of bilateral trade, which amounted to approximately 8.37 billion Qatari Riyals in 2017, the equivalent of 2.29 billion dollars, positioning Germany as Qatar’s 11th trading partner.
Around 27 companies fully owned German companies are currently operating in Qatar in addition to 112 Qatari-German joint companies operating in the fields of trade, construction, services, telecommunications, roads infrastructure and medical equipment among other sectors. Five German companies are also licensed under the umbrella of the Qatar Financial Center.
Through a 900-sqm pavilion, Qatar is participating for the first time in the Hannover Fair 2018, the world’s largest industrial forum being held in Hanover, Germany, from April 23 to 27.
The Hannover Fair is the world’s largest industrial forum and leading trade fair for industrial technology. The five-day fair, which attracts the world’s largest manufacturing companies, covers a wide range of topics on industrial and information technology, industrial supply and engineering, services, energy and environmental technology.