Bulgaria and Qatar share a common position on the priority sectors on which they can build their economic cooperation. The two countries will lay the emphasis on food production, the energy sector, high technologies, construction and trade, and on implementing projects of mutual interest. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev told Bulgarian journalists in Doha, after he held a meeting with Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar.
“Qatar shows an interest in Bulgarian agriculture and food production and displaying a responsible attitude requires implementing a national program to encourage the production of meat and dairy products,” the Head of State commented. In his words, such a program will fully support the regions with a high unemployment rate in Bulgaria. In May a delegation from Qatar will visit Bulgaria on the occasion of setting up a joint Bulgarian-Qatari company for the export of lamb meat to the Arab country. The first agreements on the export of lamb and chicken meat from Bulgaria to Qatar are due to be signed in the following months, Rosen Plevneliev added.
Establishing closer relations with Qatar in the energy sector is of key importance not only for Bulgaria, but also for all countries of the South-East European region. “Not only all of our neighbors, but also Europe as a whole are willing to ensure energy diversification,” the President further added. In his opinion, it is likely that Qatar may become the first country-exporter of natural gas to take part in creating a South-North gas corridor. The countries from the Visegrad group, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece are ready to participate in such a project. “We are seeking opportunities for the seven countries to make investments in building a terminal for liquefied gas on the territory of the Republic of Greece. Although the implementation of such a project will certainly take time, Bulgaria is obliged to work in order to ensure the diversification of the energy sources,” Rosen Plevneliev emphasized. The opportunities for cooperation in the sphere of energy efficiency and the construction of energy neutral buildings were also discussed at the meeting the Head of State held with the emir of Qatar.
Rosen Plevneliev further commented that companies from Bulgaria that have gained experience in the construction sector in the past years have the potential to take part in launching large-scale projects in the transport and energy infrastructure on the territory of Qatar. Bulgarian construction companies are already making their first successful steps in the country and may contribute to Qatar’s preparation for the world football championship in 2022.
The Bulgarian and Qatari Heads of State attended the ceremony of signing agreements for cooperation between the diplomatic institutes at the foreign ministries of the two countries and between the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency and the Qatar News Agency. Also an agreement on fraternization of Sofia Municipality and the city of Doha was signed.
Bulgaria and Qatar will also strengthen their partnership in the education sector, as well as in the defense industry sector, the Head of State’s words further made it clear.
Earlier today Rosen Plevneliev got acquainted with the activity of the “Qatar” foundation and held talks with its chairperson, Sheikh Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned. The Head of State also got acquainted with the “Education City” project, which is carried out with the help of the foundation in the capital Doha.
“It is here that I see the future. Although Qatar is a very rich country, what really is worth respecting is the approach adopted to education and the efforts made to make it accessible to everyone,” President Plevneliev said. The Head of State also recalled the Qatari foundation’s contribution to supporting education worldwide by launching Sheikh Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned’s initiative “Education come first.” “The difference lies in the attitude to education – many politicians talk about growth, while here it is a fact,” the Head of State further commented.