H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, met today, Sunday, 1 February 2026, with H.E. Mr. Paul Frederic Höller, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the Government of the State of North Rhine–Westphalia of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the accompanying delegation currently visiting the country.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation relations in the trade, investment, and industrial fields, discussed ways to strengthen and further develop them, and addressed a number of topics of mutual interest.

On the sidelines, H.E. the Minister of Commerce and Industry and H.E. the State Secretary witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and NRW.Global Business GmbH, the trade and investment agency of the State of North Rhine–Westphalia.

The Memorandum of Understanding aims to enhance institutional economic and investment cooperation between the two sides, support mutual investments, facilitate the entry of Qatari companies into the North Rhine–Westphalia market, and support companies from the state in expanding into the Qatari market and the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

The MoU also stipulates the establishment of a representative office for NRW.Global Business in the State of Qatar to serve as a platform for promoting economic exchange, supporting investments and cooperation projects, and facilitating access to relevant stakeholders on both sides.

Under the MoU, the two parties will cooperate in a number of priority sectors, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing technologies and digital services, smart industry and advanced manufacturing, defense industries, startups and research and development, in addition to education and training.

The MoU further provides for the formation of a joint steering committee from both sides to oversee implementation, and to develop the legal, regulatory, and operational frameworks required for establishing and operating the representative office, in a manner that serves the shared interests of both parties.

The signing of this MoU comes within the context of the growing relations between the State of Qatar and the State of North Rhine–Westphalia, and builds on recent high-level mutual visits, contributing to the consolidation of a strategic and sustainable economic partnership between the two sides.