Trade volume between Qatar and Australia to grow further: Envoy

DOHA: The Ambassador of Australia to Qatar, Dr Axel Wabenhorst, has said that trade volume in meat and vegetables between Qatar and Australia big. 

The Ambassador also noted that a Qatari business delegation is expected to visit Australia to study opportunities of agricultural investment in Australia in the beginning of next year and after the delegation’s visit the size of trade may increase by 10 percent. “Now Qatar’s focus is more on the development of its agricultural sector,” he added.

“Australia has an experience in the dry land agriculture and Australian farmers know how to farm on dry land and Australia wants to cooperate with Qatar in this field,” said the Ambassador.

This statement came yesterday during a round table hosted by Australian embassy on ‘Food Security and the Australian Agricultural Experience’ at the embassy. “We also have experience in the field of greenhouses and desalination of water from the sea and this may be useful for the agricultural sector in Qatar,” the Ambassador said.

He further said the embassy was delighted to host Dalene Wray from OBE Organic and representatives from Qatar’s agriculture sector to discuss Australia’s dryland agricultural experience, and how Australia and Qatar can cooperate on food security challenges.

“The visit of the delegation from Australia from OBE Organic company will be the first step in the partnership between Qatar and Australia in the field of agriculture,” he said.

Dalene Wray Managing Director, OBE Organic said that it was great to discuss the opportunity for mutual collaboration between Australian and Qatari institutions, to build stronger agricultural exchange between our nations.

Mubarak Rashid Al Sahouti, Director of Business Relations Hassad Food, said, “We have significant investments in Australia and we started these investments since 2009 and 2010. We are still looking for new opportunities in the agricultural and food sectors in general.”