London: HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Republic of Iceland, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani, affirmed that the convention of the second Qatar-UK Strategic Dialogue in Doha on Sunday had lent new momentum to the partnership between the two countries and promoted it at various levels.
According to Qatar News Agency, His Excellency highlighted that the dialogue sessions were a precious opportunity to share perspectives on regional and global issues of common concern, in addition to discussing avenues for promoting this partnership in the areas of politics, economy, energy, education, defense, and climate change, given the challenges faced by the world today.
His Excellency added that the outcomes of this dialogue, including the signing of the letter of intent for cooperation between the two countries in the field of peace, reconciliation, and conflict resettlement, along with forming eight joint working groups in numerous critical domains, usher in a new shift in the bilateral relationship.
The dialogue underscores the two nations’ commitment to elevating their relations toward broader apertures and building a shared future underpinning constructive dialogue, partnership, and mutual respect, he underlined.
HE the Ambassador affirmed that work would continue to translate this vision into programs and initiatives that boost bilateral cooperation and partnership in multiple domains, particularly at the economic level, thereby translating the ties of friendship into exceptional relationships.
He pointed out that the two nations share an exceptional relationship based on long-standing friendship ties, in addition to a commitment to strengthening this relationship in a way that serves the issues of peace, stability, and prosperity on the global stage.
His Excellency noted the statistics and figures laid down in a report prepared by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) on ‘The Economic Contribution of Qatari Investment in the UK’, which highlights the depth and significance of the growing economic relationship between the two countries.
These figures reveal the scale and significance of Qatar’s long-term investments in the UK, as they analyze the economic impact of firms operating in the UK that have received Qatari investments (equivalent to more than 10 percent of equity shareholding) during the period from 2008 to 2022, using the latest available data, His Excellency highlighted.
According to these figures, in 2022 alone, Qatari investments in the UK recorded total revenues amounting to GBP 127.2 billion, reflecting the diversity and breadth of Qatar’s investments in the UK. The report further revealed that Qatari investments supported more than 600,000 direct jobs, representing approximately one out of every 44 full-time equivalent jobs in the UK in 2022, thereby underscoring the extensive impact of these investments on the labor market across various sectors.
Concluding his remarks, HE the Ambassador emphasized that, in their capacity as trade partners, they possess the capability of fostering mutual economic development through the exchange of skills and research knowledge, in addition to capitalizing on the strategic gains this partnership generates in a constantly evolving world.