Qatar’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H E Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Hamar
Seoul: Qatar’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H E Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Hamar (pictured) has affirmed the keenness of the State of Qatar to expand economic cooperation and investment relations with Korea.
In an interview he gave yesterday to South Korean News Agency (Yonhap), Al Hamar said relationship between Qatar and Korea has been developing continuously since the establishment of relations between the two countries in April 1974, saying they witnessed a wide exchange of visits between ranking officials. The relationship is close and based on common interests, cooperation and exchange between the two countries, the Ambassador said.
He pointed out that trade volume between the two countries exceeded $10bn in 2021, adding that investments between Qatar and Korea have become diversified and are no longer limited to gas and its derivatives.
Al Hamar added that during 2021 a major deal was concluded between the two countries in the field of building liquefied natural gas ships, which works to strengthen the developed relations in this vital and important field, noting that the current year 2022 will witness the convening of the sixth meeting of the higher joint committee between the two countries, which is the committee responsible for developing relations in various fields between Doha and Seoul.
He added that the meeting will discuss cooperation in the fields of energy and industry, in addition to cooperation in new non-traditional fields, including technology, smart farms, solar energy, the medical field, smart grids, and joint investments. Al Hamar also reiterated that cooperation in these new areas, and the continuation of close cooperation, holding periodic meetings between the two countries to follow up the development taking place in various fields of cooperation contributes to the development and strengthening of relations between both countries.
The Qatari Ambassador also highlighted Qatar’s strategy in putting the COVID-19 pandemic under control by focusing on three pillars: the protection of citizens and residents as well as the country’s health system from collapse, to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy and society, and Qatar’s commitment towards the international community by standing with the countries that need help.
He continued: “Since the beginning of the pandemic, Qatar has taken a set of steps at the local and international levels to confront the pandemic, and the State hastened to limit the spread of the pandemic, expand the absorptive capacities of hospitals, create quarantine facilities, support small and medium businesses and stimulate the economy. These measures coincided with measures at the international level, as Qatar sent aid to dozens of countries, the value of which exceeded hundreds of millions of dollars. Qatar also cooperated with the Republic of Korea to confront the pandemic at the international level. Qatar, the Republic of Korea, and other countries also launched the Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security to confront the Corona virus in 2020”.
Speaking about Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Al Hamar said ‘this time the competition is unique in its kind, as the event represents a window through which the world is introduced to the Middle East region in which the tournament will be held for the first time’, and noted that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be an event for all Arabs.
He pointed out that the World Cup stadiums are ready to receive fans, and added that there are events accompanying the World Cup, including a variety of cultural and recreational activities and events throughout the tournament to highlight the richness of the Qatari heritage, the cultural diversity of the communities residing in Qatar, and give the World Cup a festive atmosphere.
Al Hamar concluded by calling on the Koreans to attend the tournament, stressing that it will be a distinct tournament and different from its predecessors.
