Greece in the UK
About Us Embassy of Greece in London News PM in Qatar: New relation formalized, impetus to investments
PM in Qatar: New relation formalized, impetus to investments
A new relationship
between Greece and Qatar has been formalized, following Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' discussions
with senior Qatari leaders, Greek government sources told AMNA on Wednesday.
Samaras, on a visit to Doha, met successively on
Wednesday with the Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the Crown
Prince of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Khalifa Al Thani, followed by a
ceremony for the establishment of a Greece-Qatar Business Council. On Tuesday
evening he met with the prime minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber
Al Thani.
Addressing the
inaugural session of the Business Council, Samaras called Wednesday "an
important day for the relations between our two countries", since "we
are given the opportunity to commence something new, with a new way of though
and action", adding that "we can give new impetus to investments and
business opportunities".
Samaras, who arrived in Doha on Monday evening accompanied by several key ministers and a 40-member business
delegation, began his official talks with Qatari officials on Tuesday, aiming
at enhancing economic relations between the two countries and attracting
investments to Greece,
and rekindling Qatari investment interest.
"The Greek businessmen who are today in Qatar are the best. The two countries have many common fields for a new beginning in
their relations. Both love life, trade and the sea," he said, adding that
"this government is an enemy of bureaucracy and understands the obstacles
it raises to growth and business activity".
Samaras later visited the Pearl-Qatar in Doha, an artificial island spanning nearly four million
square meters, while he is also due to tour the Museum of Islamic Art, and the new airport,
which Greek companies participated in the construction of, before departing Qatar on
Wednesday evening.
A government source told AMNA that substantial
steps were made toward restoring the confidence and credibility between the two
countries, which will form the basis for accelerating business agreements.
The same source stressed that the disbelief
created in the Qatari leadership from previous contacts has been overcome, and
"now we are moving ahead, but steady steps will be made, we will proceed
plan by plan".
The source said that Qatar continues to insist on its preferred inter-state agreements, but understands
the difficulties in Greece due to its commitments to the European regulations for international tendering
procedures. The emirate has expressed specific interest in some of the 37
regional airports and 48 marinas due to be denationalized by the Greek
government.
Also, a plan is being advanced for setting up a
joint investment fund, with capital from both countries that will invest in
small and medium size enterprises.
The Greek government requires EU approval for
the plan, while it is also seeking the capital for its own participation, which
could be part of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) monies.
The source said that the new relationship
between the two countries creates margins for the development of direct relations
between businessmen from both countries.
Samaras, the source continued, noted that the
businessmen accompanying to government delegation to Doha are of a very high level, which
constitutes a vote of confidence in the Greek government.
He further presented to the Qatari leaders
dossiers of specific plans that Greek entrepreneurs have drafted, in which
Qatari private or state capital could participate, in such areas as medicines,
health, tourism, energy, and even the development of commercial Malls.
