Azerbaijan plans to open trade house in Qatar this year: Envoy

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Qatar, H E Rashad Ismayilov, has said that his country and Qatar have solidified a privileged relationship built on common values in all fields and which is a true reflection of the strong human, cultural and economic links between our countries. 

“The Republic of Azerbaijan and the State of Qatar are seeking to develop cooperation in  political and economic fields, and no doubt that the official visit of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on March 7, 2016  to Azerbaijan and the official visit of H E Ilham Aliyev on February 26, 2017 to Qatar launched a new era of bilateral relations which will lead to strengthening the work on building a large network of mutual bilateral interests to serve the issues of development,” he added while addressing a ceremony to celebrate the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Thursday.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani, Minister of State and Qatar National Library (QNL) President Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, a number of diplomats, Azerbaijan community members and other guests. 

“I believe that one of the most important goals for the near future should be the increase of trade, and there are good opportunities for that. Cooperation in the field of agriculture is also expanding. There are some Azerbaijani products in Qatari market. In general, our economic and trade relations are developing, and we will soon see significant progress in this area. The Azerbaijan Trade House is planned to open in Qatar in 2022. There will be an opportunity to demonstrate Azerbaijani products at the Trade House.”

He added: “We attach special importance to the development of mutually beneficial relationship with our foreign partners in various areas and as far as Qatar is concerned, expansion of existing bilateral economic cooperation to reach the level of our political relations is one of our primary goals.”  

“We can express our satisfaction with the fact that despite the pandemic situation, in addition to a number of online meetings between relevant authorities of the two counties last autumn we managed to hold two important events in Baku with physical presence of the delegations. Thus, on September 7, 2021 we had the second round of bilateral political consultations and on October 18, Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Commission held its third meeting.”

The Ambassador said that on the sidelines of the Joint Commission’s last meeting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar signed an agreement on visa exemption. 

The Agreement entered into force on March 27, 2022. According to the Agreement, citizens of the State of Qatar holding valid passports can enter the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan without a visa and stay there for 30 (thirty) days without a visa.  

The Ambassador said that the relations established between the two countries are based on the principle of mutual respect that exerts positive influence on development of the cooperation between them in all fields of activity and serve the interests of the both countries in regional and international context. 

“Besides, signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Katara Cultural Village Foundation and Icherisheher Administration in Baku as well as inauguration of Azerbaijan Corner in Katara with a monument highlighting friendship and brotherhood relations between Azerbaijan and Qatar were notable in terms of creating new horizons for cooperation in the cultural domain.”  

He also congratulated state and people of Qatar on hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022. “The championship is an important sporting event in the world, and hosting such a prestigious competition can be explained by Qatar’s important role and weight in world politics, as well as the country’s achievements.”