Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, participated in the Annual Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Forum. The event was held in Berlin on April 9.
The event drew the attendance of several German ministers and representatives from major German companies across various industries. The forum served as a platform to strengthen public-private partnerships, focusing on the role of SMEs in sustainable economic growth.
Dr. Al Sayed inaugurated Qatar’s pavilion, which was organized by the German Association of SMEs (BVMW). The event was in collaboration with Qatar’s Embassy in Berlin. He and his accompanying delegation toured the exhibition showcasing innovative contributions from German SMEs.
In his remarks, the Minister highlighted the growing economic ties between Qatar and Germany. He mentioned that bilateral trade exceeded $10 billion over the past five years. Additionally, he noted that the Qatar Investment Authority holds over $14 billion in major German firms such as Siemens, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Deutsche Bank. Currently, 342 German companies operate in Qatar.
Dr. Al Sayed emphasized the importance of SMEs in Qatar’s economy. He stated that they represent 98% of the country’s private sector, contribute 10% to GDP, and generate 15% of national employment. He pointed to Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) as frameworks. These frameworks prioritize the development of the SME sector through regulatory improvements and incentives.
He invited German business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Qatar, particularly in infrastructure and technology. He noted the country’s strategic position as a regional business hub.
On the sidelines of the forum, Dr. Al Sayed held bilateral talks with key German officials. These included Udo Philipp, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action; Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; and Christoph Ahlhaus, Chairman of BVMW and President of European Entrepreneurs (CEA-PME). The discussions centered on enhancing trade and investment cooperation between the two nations.
