HE the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the State of Qatar (non-resident) Olav Myklebust said that the visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Norway highlights the longstanding and strong bilateral relationship between the two countries. In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency added that HH the Amir's "visit will further strengthen our bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of common interest such as: economic cooperation, technological change and green transition, as well as multilateral cooperation, regional peace and stability, including conflict resolution," pointing out that HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norways visit to Qatar in 2019 marked the successful and longstanding industrial cooperation between Norway and Qatar. He explained that the Amir's visit comes at a critical time for the Middle East, and expressed his country's appreciation for Qatar central role in the push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. "Norway and Qatar share a common intere st in stability and security in the region. The visit will allow for dialogue on joint efforts for peace and reconciliation in the region and beyond," he said. The Norwegian Ambassador noted that the central topics to be discussed include regional challenges and security issues, as well as peace and conflict resolution, emphasizing that both Qatar and Norway share a similar approach to mediation and facilitation, and actively contribute to conflict resolution. "By strengthening our cooperation to promote peace we can achieve even better results", he stressed. He also said, "energy security and green transition are also important topics that will be addressed. There is a need for transforming the world's energy production to a achieve a greener future. Our countries are both important contributors to European energy security and we share similar interests in the energy sector, including developments related to the green transition," adding that there are currently ongoing talks about several different cooper ation agreements in various areas. On the relationship between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Norway, His Excellency said that the Norway and Qatar share a longstanding and strong bilateral relationship, and a long industrial history, pointing out that in 2019, HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited Qatar for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of industrial cooperation between Norway and Qatar. Norwegian business has been present in the State of Qatar since Norwegian Hydro (now Yara) established itself as a pioneer in the 1960s, he said, adding that "our joint ventures QAFCO and Qatalum are success stories. Our relationship has continued on a positive trajectory in recent years, with several new areas of collaboration. There are good opportunities for further cooperation, especially in the areas of maritime technology, clean energy and the green maritime industry." HE the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the State of Qatar expressed his appreciation for HH the Amir and his delegation fo r seizing the opportunity to visit Norway, noting in this context that high-level visits of this kind have an important catalyzing effect for cooperation, especially as the visit will highlight the valuable benefits of our two countries bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation. "The volume of trade and investment exchange between our countries has developed over time and continues to grow. The total value of Norways exports to Qatar has grown over the past 10 years and investments have increased substantially over just the past few years. Seafood, and in particular salmon, is a major Norwegian export item to Qatar, with well over 1000 tons annually. Qatar Airways is also a crucial partner for Norwegian exports to other countries," His Excellency said. He noted that Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime is delivering top class electronic steering systems to LNG ships being built for Qatar Energy and is increasing substantially its number of employees in Doha. HE the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the State of Qatar (non-resident) Olav Myklebust concluded his statements by pointing out that "energy transition and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) are other areas where I see great opportunities for cooperation. So, I am confident that the economic ties between our countries will continue to strengthen over time," stressing that Qatar and Norway have a lot in common. Source: Qatar News Agency
Friday, September 20, 2024