DOHA – Iran’s Energy Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian and Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani in a meeting on Monday signed the memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The MoU of the 8th Meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Qatar was signed between Mehrabian and al-Thani in Doha, Qatar.
Stressing Iran’s approach to the development of international relations, Mehrabian said that the current meetings manifest a new chapter in the development of cooperation between Iran and Qatar.
Referring to the deep-rooted relations between Iran and Qatar, he added that holding such meetings is not only constructive, but also it is strengthening bilateral ties between the two states.
This Memorandum of Understanding focuses on the areas of transit, transportation, industry and trade, energy, customs, free zones, tourism, cultural heritage, agriculture, and sports.
Mehrabian and Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Qassim Al-Thani co-chaired the eight round of intergovernmental committee meetings between Iran and Qatar.
Mehrabian arrived in the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday while leading a senior delegation of Iranian government officials, including the sports minister Hamid Sajjadi and head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Alireza Peymanpak.
Meetings between officials of the two countries have increased in recent months as Qatar prepares to host the World Cup 2022 in November and December.
Speaking during his visit to the Qatari capital of Doha to participate in the eighth meeting of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, Mehrabian pointed to the high capabilities and potentials of private sectors in neighboring states and added that the private sector has high potential in boosting the volume of trade and can be effective in strengthening trade and economic relations of the two countries.
Emphasizing the proper development of Iran’s relations with its neighbors, especially positive political relations between Iran and Qatar, the minister added that supporting the Iranian private sector in enhancing economic relations with neighboring Qatar is the most important objective in line with cementing bilateral trade and economic activities.
Iran has offered its full logistical support to help Qatar successfully organize the tournament.
Experts say Iran’s trade with Qatar can significantly increase from a current annual figure of $150 million in light of the increasing cooperation between the two countries.