Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and his Qatari counterpart, Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, met for the Türkiye-Qatar Joint Economic Commission meeting in Istanbul, with Investment Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu also in attendance.
In his opening remarks, Minister Şimşek emphasized the strong political ties between the two countries, stating, “This high-level dialogue aims to reinforce the deep-rooted relationship between Türkiye and Qatar."
Şimşek elaborated, “We are committed to enhancing bilateral investments, expanding areas of cooperation, boosting export financing, and securing funding for large-scale projects and green growth. We also aim to explore trade opportunities, enhance cooperation in housing and real estate investments, facilitate aviation operations, and share our experience in economic reforms."
Şimşek also highlighted that, thanks to Free Trade Agreements with 54 countries, Türkiye has access to a USD 30 trillion market, including the EU. “This not only offers resilience against trade protectionism but also demonstrates that regional integration is our best defense against global trade fragmentation," he said.
Qatari Finance Minister Al Kuwari noted that discussions in Ankara for 2024 had been highly productive and reaffirmed the ongoing economic partnership between Türkiye and Qatar. “Over the years, we have strengthened our dynamic economic relations through investments and joint ventures," Al Kuwari said.
“Our energy cooperation has seen significant growth and has contributed notably to both economies, particularly through LNG deals, such as the landmark 2015 LNG agreement, which played a crucial role in reinforcing our long-term commitments. We remain dedicated to exploring new areas for cooperation, and the ongoing negotiations for the Türkiye-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement are expected to boost trade and investment flows by opening new markets, reducing trade barriers, and creating a more favorable environment for businesses in the region," Al Kuwari added.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation.