Qatar to make USD 30 billion more investment:PM
23 Mar, 2010 – Qatar Tribune, by Rajesh Mishra
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov and his Qatar counterpart Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani
RAJESH MISHRA
DOHA QATAR Investment Authority (QIA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF), invested a total of $30 billion last year and would invest an equal amount this year as well, said the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani on Monday.
Addressing a press conference jointly with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov at Emiri Diwan to announce a cooperation agreement between the two countries, the premier said that Qatar was always ready to invest in a country where there were prospects of good return for both sides.
He also announced that Qatar and Bulgaria had agreed to set up a joint venture company to explore investment opportunities in energy, infrastructure, tourism and agricultural sectors following detailed discussions over issues of mutual interest.
He remarked, “The ties between Qatar and Bulgaria are getting cemented.
Bulgaria opened its embassy in Doha last year and Qatar is likely to open its own in Bulgaria this year.
“The two countries have been moving closer to each other since the recent visit by the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani to Bulgaria.” In his turn, the Bulgarian prime minister said, “Today and tomorrow, ministers will work on the joint venture between the two parties to quickly prepare two to five projects”.
Meanwhile, Qatar and Bulgaria have also signed a double taxation agreement as well as a memorandum of understanding on energy.
The double taxation agreement was signed by Qatar’s Minister of Economy and Finance, HE Yousef Hussain Kamal, and Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nickolay Mladenov.
The MoU on Energy was signed by Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation and Cabinet Member, HE Dr Khalid bin Mohammad al Attiyah, and Bulgaria’s Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, Traycho Traykov.
According to a report, the Bulgarian delegation is expected to hold talks with potential investors in infrastructure projects during the three-day visit, which ends on Wednesday.
Participation in the Ruse and Plovdiv airport concessions, the construction of the second Danube crossing and supply of liquefied gas from Qatar are some of the investment ideas that Bulgarian politicians are expected to propose at their meetings.