Qatar Chamber hosted a German trade delegation on Wednesday. The delegation was led by Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, to discuss expanding bilateral economic cooperation and boosting mutual investments.
The meeting, held in Doha, was attended by Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani and other senior business leaders from both countries. A joint business session was organized. It highlighted investment opportunities and reinforced the role of the private sector in enhancing Qatar-Germany economic relations.
Key sectors identified for collaboration included energy, technology, shipping, petrochemicals, engineering, ports, sports, and advanced materials like semiconductors and polymers.
Sheikh Khalifa highlighted that trade volume between Qatar and Germany reached $6 billion in 2024. He noted that Qatar imported $5.1 billion worth of goods from Germany, while exports to Germany totaled around $900 million. He added that hundreds of German companies are currently active in Qatar across various sectors. These companies operate either independently or in partnership with local firms.
“Germany is one of the key destinations for Qatari investments, particularly in industries such as automotive, telecoms, finance, and real estate,” he said.
He reiterated Qatar’s commitment to foreign investment. He cited the country’s shift towards a diversified, knowledge-based economy under the leadership of the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
In response, Minister-President Hendrik Wüst praised Qatar’s growing role as a regional center for business and innovation. He also commended Qatar National Vision 2030 for its focus on sustainability and economic diversification.
He described North Rhine-Westphalia as Germany’s leading industrial region. It is currently undergoing transformation from traditional heavy industries to advanced sectors like artificial intelligence and clean technologies. This transition, he said, offers a wide scope for partnership with Qatari investors.
Felix Neugart, CEO of NRW Global Business, also gave a presentation on the investment climate in North Rhine-Westphalia. He outlined strategic sectors such as biotech, hydrogen energy, nanotechnology, AI, and aviation as key areas for potential collaboration.
The meeting concluded with both sides affirming their commitment to deepening trade and investment ties. They aim to leverage the strengths of each economy for mutual growth.
