QNA
In the context of the State of Qatar’s unwavering keenness to strengthen its external relations, build bridges and strengthen ties and relations with brothers and friends, the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani will meet President of the Italian Republic H E Sergio Mattarella at the Amiri Diwan today. The Italian President arrived in Doha yesterday evening, for a state visit to the State of Qatar.
H H the Amir is scheduled to discuss with H E the Italian President, bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, ways to develop and strengthen them, and a number of issues of common concern.
This visit is a valuable occasion to push forward the solid bilateral relations between Doha and Rome and open more fields and horizons to expand and strengthen them, and also to serve the aspirations and common interests of the two countries and their two friendly peoples.
The visit is a part of the wise policy of H H the Amir and his wise government, which is aimed at strengthening the State of Qatar’s external relations with brothers, friends and allies and continuing to build strategic partnerships with them, as well as affirming the state’s stances towards regional and international issues of common concern.
The visit of H E the Italian President to the country and the discussions which will take place during it, are expected to contribute to developing cooperation relations between the two countries, and upgrading them to broader horizons in all fields, in a way that serves the goals pursued by the two friendly peoples, and to establish an advanced stage in cooperation relations between Doha and Rome, in order to raise the level of economic cooperation; increase the volume of trade exchange; and enhance cooperation in various vital sectors between the two countries, which are sharing political and economic visions, as well as common interests in all fields.
The Qatari-Italian relations culminated in the exchange of the opening of embassies in the capitals of the two countries in 1992, and ever since, they have been witnessing rapid and solid development in all fields, especially economic and commercial. These relations have turned into strategic partnership, thanks to the keenness of the leaderships of the two countries to upgrade them in various sectors.
Relations between Doha and Rome have been strengthened and developed in recent years through exchanging official visits of leaders and senior officials in the two countries, in the forefront of which is the most recent H H The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visits to the Italian Republic during January 2016 and November 2018, as well as the visit of the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to Doha in April 2018.
In addition to this, many of the visits made by a number of ministers in the two countries in recent years, including those of the Foreign, Interior and Defense Ministers. A Qatari-Italian Businessmen Council has also been established to enhance economic relations and explore areas of bilateral cooperation.
These relations were also strengthened by the successful participation of the State of Qatar in the Expo Milano 2015, where the Pavilion of the State of Qatar witnessed the organization of several events that greatly contributed to introducing the Qatari economy and its broad investment prospects.
The agreements and MoUs signed between Qatar and Italy play an important role in strengthening and consolidating bilateral relations in various fields, which cover cooperation in the economic, political, diplomatic, defense, investment, scientific, educational, health, youth, sports, artistic, cultural, and tourism sectors, as well as in the fields of energy, agriculture, and strategic projects related to food security.
The Qatari-Italian economic relations witnessed significant development after the official opening of the Adriatic LNG terminal in the Italian coastal city of Rovigo in October 2009, which receives 8 billion cubic meters of Qatari LNG every year, equivalent to 10 percent of Italy’s needs.
The military cooperation between the two countries extends to Qatar’s purchase of seven Italian naval units worth EUR 5 billion, as well as NH90 helicopters, which is the latest of its kind in the helicopter sector.
Italy is the eighth trading partner and the seventh largest supplier to Qatar, with the volume of trade exchange between the two countries exceeding EUR one billion. Italian companies play an important role in supporting Qatar’s development plans and projects, focusing mainly on the building and construction market, the real estate sector, infrastructure, design, health, engineering and technology, as well as projects related to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The number of Italian companies operating in the country is about 250 companies, of which 200 are companies with joint Italian and Qatari capital and 50 companies with 100 percent Italian capital and ownership.
Italy is an outstanding destination for Qatari investments that have entered into various sectors and economic activities, which embodies the State’s dedication to harnessing part of its resources to invest in the economies of strategic partners and where promising investment opportunities exist.
Qatari investments in Italy are very large and concentrated in real estate, hotels and the development of residential areas, in addition to the Qatar Airways investments, which includes more than forty flights a week that link Hamad International Airport and four Italian destinations. The airline also announced the acquisition of a 49 percent stake in AQA Holding, the new parent company of Air Italy, known as Meridiana fly, but announced a new identity in conjunction with a new phase of growth and expansion.
It is estimated that Italy has an area of 300,000 square kilometers and its population exceeds 60 million, with a capitalist economy with a high per capita gross domestic product and an advanced infrastructure. According to the International Monetary Fund, Italy was the seventh-largest economy in the world and the fourth-largest economy in Europe in 2008.
