H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, participated in the Annual Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Forum held in the German capital, Berlin, on 9 April 2025. The event was attended by a number of German ministers and witnessed broad participation from major German companies from various industries.

The forum focuses on strengthening public-private cooperation as a platform for engagement and partnership aimed to bolster SMEs growth and sustainable economic development.

H.E. Dr. Al-Sayed inaugurated Qatar’s pavilion, organised by the German Association of SMEs (BVMW) in cooperation with Qatar’s Embassy in Berlin. His Excellency and the accompanying Qatari delegation toured the exhibition that showcased German SMEs.

In his opening address, H.E. Dr. Al-Sayed highlighted the robust commitment of Qatar and Germany to advancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation, outlining the remarkable growth in bilateral trade that exceeded USD 10 billion over the past five years. His Excellency noted that the Qatar Investment Authority holds over USD 14 billion investments in leading German names, such as Siemens, Porsche, Volkswagen and Deutsche Bank; and that 342 German companies selected Qatar for regional operations.

The Minister underscored the vital role that SMEs play in Qatar’s economy, noting that they account for 98% of the private sector companies. H.E. stated that SMEs contribute 10% of the national GDP and generate 15% of national employment. His Excellency explained that, under Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), the country attaches great importance to the SME sector by fostering a conducive business ecosystem, improving regulations, and offering attractive incentives.

Dr. Al-Sayed urged German business leaders to explore the promising opportunities available in Qatar, particularly in infrastructure and technology, affirming that Qatar is a leading hub for investors seeking new opportunities.

On the sidelines of the forum, H.E. Dr. Al-Sayed held a series of bilateral meetings with leaders from various sectors; including H.E. Udo Philipp, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action; H.E. Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; and Mr. Christoph Ahlhaus, Chairman of the Federal Executive Board of the German Association for SMEs (BVMW) and President of European Entrepreneurs (CEA-PME). Discussions focused on enhancing trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

The forum featured a panel discussion on Qatar-Germany investment relations, which addressed topics including doing business in Qatar and investment opportunities in Germany. The session featured remarks from H.E. Dr. Al-Sayed and presentations by representatives of Invest Qatar, Qatar Free Zones Authority, Qatar Development Bank, Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council (QRDI), and Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), highlighting opportunities and initiatives tailored to foster innovation, draw foreign direct investment, and drive sectoral growth.

The Qatari delegation also visited the Centre for Experiential Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation (ZEKI) at the Technical University of Berlin, where they were briefed on the Centre’s advanced services, including innovative digital and AI technologies.