The Emir of the state of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is on his first state visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Head of State
Reaffirming Bulgaria as a regional center of information technologies in Southeastern Europe and the quick development of telecommunications and tourism create conditions for attracting investments from Qatar in these quickly developing sectors of the Bulgarian economy and for establishing mutually-beneficial partnerships. This was the position voiced by President Rumen Radev and His Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is on an ????? visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian President.
The two Heads of State discussed a lot of projects of mutual interest in the sphere of agriculture and food production, transport infrastructure, energy, research and education, sports and others. The project for establishing an Institute for Sustainable Development in Bulgaria with technologies from CERN, in which a center for the treatment of oncological diseases with hadron therapy and the training of physicists will be established, was identified as particularly promising at the plenary talks between the official delegations of the two countries on attracting foreign investments and establishing partnerships in research. Our country is also interested in using Qatar’s experience in the construction of intermodal ports and also in attracting investments in the construction and development of infrastructure in Bulgaria which is part of the transport corridors, it transpired at the meeting.
Bulgaria’s efforts to ensure energy diversification and natural gas supply from the state of Qatar to Bulgaria were also discussed at the talks between the official delegations. Our country’s position to have the declared interest in partnership be supplemented by signing a bilateral agreement was also voiced.
The exchange of investments and experience in the sphere of agriculture and the construction of agricultural farms in Bulgaria which should sell their production in Qatar were highlighted as a very promising sphere of mutual interest.
Within Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit, a Bulgarian-Qatar business forum is held in which more than 60 entrepreneurs from Qatar are taking part. A lot of documents for bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the state of Qatar in the sphere of energy, youth, culture and sports, education and science and entrepreneurship will be signed.
As President of the EU Council, Bulgaria will continue to support the international initiatives for strengthening the cooperation and the political dialogue on stabilizing the Persian Gulf region, Rumen Radev said. The Head of State was adamant that the peace negotiations and international diplomacy should be encouraged so that the challenges could be overcome. “The negotiations and the mutual respect for the countries’ interests have no alternative in the process of solving the current problems in the Persian Gulf. The stability and security of the Gulf Cooperation Council member-states is of key importance for Bulgaria and Europe,” the President said.
At the meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Rumen Radev voiced our country’s gratitude for the support offered by the Middle-East country and His Highness the Emir-father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for releasing the Bulgarian medics that were sentenced to death.
Earlier during the day a ceremony for welcoming Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Bulgaria was held in front of the presidential institution. The two Heads of State had a meeting in private and took a walk in the center of Sofia and saw cultural and historical sights in Bulgaria’s capital.