Doha, Qatar: Bilateral relations between Qatar and Australia have been described as “really good” with close partnership in various sectors, particularly in economic field.
Ambassador of Australia to Qatar, H E Jonathan Muir, highlighted the strong ties between the two countries during a recent talk with The Peninsula.
Muir emphasised the continuous growth of trade between Qatar and Australia, reaching an impressive AUD2.8bn (approximately QR8bn) annually. He further explained that this trade encompasses both goods and services and continues to increase each year.
The ambassador expressed gratitude for Qatari investments in Australia, notably in the renewable industry, which have made a substantial contribution to Australia’s quick efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. “Qatari investment in Australia grows all the time. They are very much an important partner in our renewable sector, funding our very rapid decarbonisation economy. They are most welcome partner. We really appreciate it.” While both countries also prioritise security cooperation, Ambassador Muir stressed that the main focus of their relationship lies in economic collaboration. He described Qatar as an essential partner, and the economic ties between the two nations provide significant benefits for both sides.
In an earlier statement, Diana Monis, Business Development Manager in Qatar for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), said that Qatar ranks among Australia’s top three trading partners in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The two-way trade in goods and services between the two countries was valued at AUD2.8bn in the 2021-2022 period, exhibiting a consistent annualised growth rate of 7.7 percent over the past five years.
Monis highlighted the active presence of Australian companies in Qatar and outlined the primary exports from Australia to Qatar, including alumina, meat, and engineering services. On the other hand, Qatar primarily exports aviation services, fertiliser, and aluminium to Australia.
Moreover, she also noted that Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, along with other state-owned investment vehicles like Hassad Food and Nebras Power, had collectively invested around AUD4bn in various sectors in Australia in 2022, such as property, logistics, energy, and agriculture.