The visit of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro to Qatar couldn’t have come at a better time since the two countries have been aggressively pursuing to forge relations in the fields of political, trade, economic, investment and sports fields.
From one FIFA World Cup hosts to the one hosting the game’s showpiece event in 2022, Brazil and Qatar enjoy excellent diplomatic and trade relations that have seen an upward trend for the last four decades.
The Brazil President yesterday met with Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Amiri Diwan and later announced to forge ahead with building deep relations between the two countries.
Officials said the Amir and the Brazilian President discussed in detail the regional and international issues in a way that contributes to supporting and enhancing global security and stability. During yesterday’s meeting, the two also witnessed a waft of MoUs signed to increase bilateral trade between Qatar and Brazil which stands at more than $5bn.
The two heads of state witnessed the signing of an agreement on the joint exemption of visa requirements for ordinary passport holders of the two countries and they also discussed ways and means to adopt a bilateral air services agreement. An MoU on cooperation in the health field and in the diplomatic training field were also signed. An MoU on defense matters between the Ministries of Defense of the two countries was also finalised.
It has been officially announced that Brazil’s role in partnering in infrastructure projects planned for the 2022 FIFA World Cup will significantly rise in the coming years. Brazil hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup and two years later staged the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Brazil is a powerhouse in world sport and has plenty to share in terms of experience knowledge in hosting top sports events.
The Brazilian President’s visit to Doha coincides with the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, which dates back to November 4, 1974. In January 1997, the Embassy of Qatar was inaugurated in Brasilia, while in May 2005, the Brazilian Embassy was officially opened in Doha.
Relations between the two countries witnessed many official visits at the highest levels in the last decade. In March 2009, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited Doha while in 2010, the Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani visited Brazil. In May 2010, former Brazilian President Lula da Silva visited Doha while in November 2014, the then Brazilian President Dilma Vana Rousseff visited Qatar.
