Germany is looking to source some of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) needs from Qatar as part of the Western European country’s energy supply diversification plans, German ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel said.
“Germany is also actively looking at diversifying its energy supply and considering options to set up an LNG terminal. In this context, German companies are, of course, talking to Qatar Petroleum concerning the supply of LNG to Germany in the near future,” Muzel said in a statement yesterday.
Germany’s plans to diversify its energy supply sources was among the major topics discussed during the sixth session of the two-day ‘Qatari-German Joint Economic Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation’, which concludes in Berlin today.
Muzel said HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari led the Qatari delegation comprising high-ranking government and business representatives. He also co-chaired the session of the commission with Thomas Bareiss, Deputy Minister at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
Al-Kuwari also met his German counterpart, Peter Altmaier, the Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, for a bilateral meeting and a dinner together with business representatives.
With both Qatar and Germany aspiring to further expand the strong economic ties linking the two countries, the talks focused on identifying investment opportunities and strengthening co-operation in the fields of energy and renewables, digital technologies, infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, sports and food-security, reflecting Qatari and German priority areas and fields of expertise, the statement pointed out.
The German Embassy in Qatar said the commission meeting attracted more than 120 German and Qatari companies. Also held was the second meeting of the Joint Task Force on Trade and Investment, which was established by the Qatari Businessmen Association and the Association of German Chambers for Commerce and Industry on the sidelines of the ‘Qatar-Germany Business and Investment Forum’ held last year in Berlin. The meeting provided strategic input for government consultations by a group of selected business representatives gathered in this format.
“Well-known German companies are involved in many strategic priority projects in Qatar like power generation and distribution, infrastructure and food security. Germany’s hidden champions, usually SMEs, are also actively contributing to the implementation of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and the preparations for the FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar in 2022.
“Qatar is also high on the agenda of German travellers: German tourism companies take visitors to Doha with their fleet of cruise ships to enjoy the unique cultural heritage of the country, MIA’s outstanding art collections and the many other attractions Qatar has to offer to its visitors,” Muzel stressed.
The ambassador added: “Germany is partnering with Qatar in health and research. The University of Heidelberg, for example, is a strategic partner for Hamad Medical Corporation in cancer research and will support the establishment of a specialised clinic to provide treatment of rare diseases in Doha.”
