Yevhen Mykytenko, Ambassador of Ukraine. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
Doha: The strong relations between Qatar and Ukraine have further expanded this year and both countries are celebrating 25 years of diplomatic ties, Yevhen Mykytenko, Ambassador of Ukraine, has said.
Ukraine is building upon its strong ties with Qatar in several areas including trade, tourism, culture, and sport. “We have done many important things together with Qatar, since the establishment of our bilateral relations 25 years ago. This year was dedicated to expanding our relations and the president of Ukraine has visited Doha in March,” Mykytenko told The Peninsula.
“Six very important documents were signed during the visit. Those documents have made a very good framework for our bilateral cooperation as well as for widening our relations in different fields,” he added.
Agreements on mutual visa waiver programme, technical military cooperation, establishment of a joint economic and technical cooperation committee, promotion and protection of mutual investments, avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, and a memorandum of understanding between Qatar University and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv were signed between Qatar and Ukraine in March.
The mutual visa waiver programme between Qatar and Ukraine has come into effect from November 2. Some 14 direct flights operate between Doha and Kyvn per week.
“We have done everything to make it easy for business people and tourists. We have seen thousands of Qataris travelling to Ukraine. For example, hundreds of Qataris travelled to Ukraine to watch the final match of the European League, between Liverpool and Real Madrid in May,” said Mykytenko.
“We are trying to organise a friendly match between the national football teams of Qatar and Ukraine. We are also looking forward to Qatar to host a successful FIFA 2022. We wish that Qatar and Ukraine to play the final game in 2022, even if it could be a draw,” he added.
The bilateral trade volume between Qatar and Ukraine in 2017 was more than $50m. Ukraine mainly exports products of steel, food, grains, wood, wheat, and others. Ukraine buys different kinds of chemical products from Qatar.
“Every second seamless tube which is used in the construction of stadiums for 2022 and for the construction of hotels and rail are produced in Ukraine. We hope the trade between the countries will increase between $60m and $79m, this year,” said Mykytenko.
Mykytenko has been serving as the ambassador in Qatar since the Ukrainian embassy was established five years ago. The embassy of Qatar was established in Kyvn, four years ago.
Around 2,000 Ukrainians work as engineers in the energy industry, doctors, managers in the hospitality industry, as sports coaches, sailors, musicians, and artists in Qatar. A Ukrainian artist residing in Qatar will hold a solo exhibition on December 16 at the Gate Mall.
