Swiss Ambassador H E Edgar Doerig
The relations between Switzerland and Qatar are “excellent,” and both countries are now in the “process” of increasing the presence of Swiss banks in the country, said Swiss Ambassador to Qatar, H E Edgar Doerig.
The envoy said that a number of high level visitors have been seen, and Credit Suisse Group has increased its staff compared to UBS Group, in an effort to boost its footprint in Qatar. The said groups are the two largest banks in Switzerland.
“The financial sector is very important for Switzerland as you know under the cooperation (which is also increasing), then we also signed an agreement on cooperation in exchange of financial matters between the two finance ministers, H E Minister Ueli Maurer and on the Qatari side by H E Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari,” the ambassador told reporters during a recent event held at Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa.
On trade relations, Doerig explained that both countries are “doing fine.” He said that the World Cup will draw a lot of Swiss tourists to the country from 4,000 to 5,000 tourists. “Tourism will be stronger in the direction from Switzerland to Qatar traditionally, (and) it has been of course very strong from Qatar to Switzerland.”
He also revealed that a delegation from hotel and medical sectors visited the country to discuss cooperation with Qatari health organisations. Among the latest development is the opening of Clinique La Prairie, a famous Swiss clinic, in partnership with Alfardan Group. The clinic is set to open in September and is located at The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island.
Another clinic, La Tour also visited the country for the second time where they visited Aspetar, and Sidra, among others. The ambassador said that they had an interesting talk with Sidra on possible cooperation of bringing Qatari patients to Geneva for treatments and continues then after in the country. “I think it’s great to know even medical exchange experts doctor specialists who would come from Switzerland to here and the other way round, so [exchanges] will be very concrete.”
He also said that on talks with Aspetar management, they are yet to find out about their Swiss football team on the possible cooperation with the hospital during their stay here especially as the World Cup is inches away.
The envoy also highlighted the educational cooperation. “There have been occasional cooperation between universities but the one which comes to my mind is the Geneva Graduate Institute, it’s Political Science cooperation… the technical high school in Lausanne Switzerland with Qatar University.” There is also a “good potential” in cooperation between universities as Qatar develops more and more, also on scientific research,” he said.
