This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
Published on September 15, 2019, Qatar is intensifying its efforts to establish a strong presence in Africa ahead of the 2022 World Cup, which will be hosted in the Middle East for the first time.
Qatar has allocated over $1.5 billion to various trade deals with African countries and has launched Qatar free zones as part of its plan to turn Doha city into a Middle East economic hub.
Port Hamad has been upgraded to handle over 7.5 million tonnes of cargo annually, while Hamad International Airport, which serves 30 million passengers annually, has been upgraded to accommodate an additional 15,000 passengers.
Qatar Airways has expanded its reach to over 160 destinations worldwide.
During a meeting with journalists in Doha, Qatar's Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, emphasized the country's commitment to partnering with African countries, citing the continent's high economic growth.
“Qatar is ready to partner with Comesa countries and Africa in general because we believe it is a worthy business partner and we shall explore all the bilateral trade avenues to increase the trade and benefits the citizens of the countries involved,” said Mr. Al Kuwari.
