Doha, December 13 (QNA) – HE UK Minister of State for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson affirmed that the State of Qatar, its leadership, government, and people have proven the success achieved in the wonderful and exceptional organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, describing this edition as “the most sensational world cup I think we have ever had.”
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE UK Minister of State for Investment praised the technologies that Qatar has invented for the success of this tournament in terms of air conditioning in stadiums and sports facilities, modern building techniques, and crowd management techniques.
HE expressed his happiness at having the opportunity to see the huge infrastructure projects put in place for the World Cup. “I have seen the stadiums, the amazing one built out of containers for example. It’s just one of the examples of the astonishing sense of innovation,” he said.
It is not simply a question of hosting a football tournament and then it finishes. This gift that Qatar presented to the world can, in partnership with the UK, build on the legacy of the World Cup to prolong this wonderful event, long into the future by enhancing sports, cultural and technical cooperation between the two sides, HE Lord Dominic Johnson added.
On the Qatari-UK relations, HE UK minister affirmed the strength and durability of relations between the two countries, especially in investment, energy, culture, and other vital fields. In this regard, HE commended the investment partnership between Qatar and Rolls-Royce in the field of developing low-cost and low-carbon nuclear energy technology and producing electricity from clean energy.
In response to a question about the contribution of Qatari investments to strengthening the UK economy, HE Johnson noted Qatar’s assistance to the UK in protecting its Olympic legacy in 2012 by investing heavily in this field. There also, for example, Harrods, one of the largest buildings in the United Kingdom, and some buildings at Heathrow Airport in which Qatar has a large stake. There is already a good partnership between the two sides and it is going very well, HE said.
Regarding the investment sectors that represent a priority for his country, the UK has some strengths and emerging industries that it would like to invest in with Qatar, especially in clean energy, life sciences, tech technical skills, research, development, and innovations in the health field. Investment in these areas will greatly strengthen the economies of the two countries in the future, HE said.
Regarding the regulatory and legislative development witnessed by Qatar to attract foreign investments and develop the business environment, HE UK Minister of State for Investment praised, in his interview with QNA, the effective regulatory environment in the business sector and the state’s keenness to support small companies to achieve success. HE also praised the strength of the national economy and the prosperity of Qatari companies in the insurance, engineering, property businesses, and other sectors.
On British companies operating in Qatar, HE the British Minister of State for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson affirmed, in his interview with QNA, said that the relations between the two countries stretches back decades, and there are 700 UK businesses registered in Qatar, many of which have contributed to infrastructure projects and preparations for hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. His Excellency pointed out that business between the State of Qatar and the UK exceeds 8 billion dollars in imports and exports, which makes Qatar among the best trading partners for the UK.
On the other hand, the British Minister also expressed his admiration for the great development witnessed in the education sector in the State of Qatar, praising the presence of many prestigious international universities in Qatar, where the same distinguished educational programs and services provided by main campuses are offered to students in Qatar.
Regarding the strategic dialogue and advancing partnership and cooperation in the field of investment between the two countries, HE Lord Johnson emphasized the keenness of the two sides to enhance this strategic dialogue, noting that the dialogue will be held in the first quarter of next year in the British Capital of London, where the discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral relations in investment, defense, energy, education and other important sectors. He added that it will also be an opportunity to assess what other new areas might be of interest for investment in order to develop the partnership between the two countries.
On the role of the private sector in developing cooperation between the two countries, he affirmed the great importance of the private sector in promoting investment between Qatar and the UK, pointing out that there are many Qatari investors who have various investments in Britain in real estate, construction companies, engineering businesses, insurance, banking, finance and other sectors, all of which have many branches within the UK.
He stressed that in the context of providing facilities to investors, a physical business mobility visa will be issued next year to facilitate movement of investors and businessmen between Doha and London, noting the regular daily flights by Qatar Airways between Doha and many British airports.
His Excellency said: “physical links, business mobility, making sure that we have good regulation to enable businesses from Qatar to set up in the UK and that they feel the regulator environment is strong and vice versa, ensuring that British businesses here can work under a regulatory regime, particularly in more innovative areas, like education and FinTech.”
On the possibility of holding a new edition of the Qatar-UK Business & Investment Forum, which was held in 2017, HE the British Minister of State for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson affirmed his country’s keenness to enhance investment cooperation with the State of Qatar and build on partnerships and strong relations linking Qatar and the United Kingdom.
On the decision to cancel the visa requirement for Qatari citizens to enhance the movement of people and capital between the two countries, he said that business mobility is very important, and there are huge numbers of Qataris who visit London regularly and vice versa, adding that the this new system they are putting in place will facilitate that. He explained that they are not canceling the visa, as they are getting rid of the paperwork and bringing in a new electronic system that will enable free and easy travel between the two countries. “The more digital transactions we can do between the countries in terms of paperwork, the better, it makes everyone’s life much easier. It sets the tone, which is correct in order to encouraging our partnership, and it reduces cost,” he said.
On the movement of foreign investment in Britain after Brexit, he stressed the strength of his country’s economy, as the British economy occupies an advanced position in the investment sector at the European level as well as at the global level, adding that the exit from the European Union allowed his country to become a global superpower and be more proactive with regard to global trade, which gives it independence in its trade relations. He also noted the strong trade relationship between his country and the European Union states.
He added “I’m very encouraged by the position of the British economy at the moment. I think in relative terms, we are doing extremely well because we’ve come through a period of volatility. We now have a very strong and stable government. I am very optimistic about our ability to show the world that we continue to be an extremely stable and predictable market for investment.”
On the partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom in the energy sector, HE the British Minister of State for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson said at the end of his interview with QNA, “we have a very strong energy partnership with Qatar and I assume that will continue. Qatar is very important part of our energy matrix and I look forward to that continuing.”
(QNA)