MOSCOW: A significant leap is expected in the Russian-Qatari trade relations in coming years, according to Russian ambassador to Qatar Nurmohamed Razlan Kholov.
The ambassador said this while introducing a trade delegation from his country at a meeting held at the Qatar Chamber yesterday.
Businessmen from diverse areas of interests are part of the delegation, whose mission in the country is jointly co-ordinated by the Russian embassy, in association with the Qatar Chamber, the Russian Arab Business Council and the Russia-Qatari Business Council.
Kholov said trade relations between Qatar and Russia have crossed more than 25 years and the countries are exploring more areas of mutual interest, especially in economy, to strengthen their relations.
While recalling the strides made by the two countries in the last few years the ambassador hoped the visit of the delegation would help businesses from both the countries understand each other better.
Kholov said economic co-operation between the two countries has significant potential and his country is hopeful of enhancing co-operation in such fields as gas, investments and urban planning.
The envoy said Russia and Qatar are world’s top exporters of natural gas and he hoped there could be more areas in the industry for more fruitful investments in coming years.
Vice chairman of the Qatar Chamber Mohamed bin Twar al-Kuwari was in attendance in the meeting and a number of Qatari business leaders were present.
QC official said trade between the two countries amounted to more than $501mn in 2014.
Russia-Qatar Business Chamber chairman Umar Jabrailov said there is increased co-operation between Qatar and Russia these days in the energy sectors, particularly in gas and also in such areas as shipping. The number of Russian companies and firms doing business with Russia in Qatar are currently on the rise; Russian gas major Gazprom has a representative office operating in Doha these days.
“The presence of such companies provides Russia with the additional cooperation opportunities including price co-ordination, interchangeable gas deliveries etc,” said another official on the sidelines of the meeting yesterday.
More than two years ago the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) purchased shares of the state-owned VTB bank in Russia for $500mn, it is learnt.
The current delegation has businessmen from such areas a construction, investment, energy and real estate developers among others.
Qatar Airways operates 12 flights a week between Doha and Moscow and more than 170,000 passengers from Moscow transited to Asian destinations through Doha in 2014.
