Qatari investment in the United Kingdom has reached £35bn. The bilateral trade between Qatar and the UK was around £6.7bn at the end of third quarter of last year, said H E Ajay Sharma (pictured), the Ambassador of the UK to Qatar.
“Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Qatar was £6.7bn at the end of third quarter of 2019. Total UK exports to Qatar amounted to £4.3bn, while total UK imports from Qatar were £2.4bn at the end of third quarter of last year,” Sharma said at a press conference held yesterday at his residence on the occasion of completion of his tenure in Qatar.
He added that Qatari gas exports to the UK meet around 15-20 percent of the country’s gas needs, and the UK currently has over 600 companies registered in Qatar.
Giving more details, the Ambassador, pointed out: “Of all UK exports to Qatar in the second quarter of last year, around £2.6bn (63.8 percent) were goods and £1.5bn (36.2 percent) were services, while of the total imports from Qatar, around £2.1bn (91.3 percent) were goods and £199m (8.7 percent) were services.”
The Ambassador also praised the level of relations and cooperation between the two countries, especially what has been achieved during the past four years, whether on the economic, political or military level.
He also appreciated the Qatari achievements related to workers’ rights, the abolition of exit permit, the facilitation of workers in moving to other company, and allowing many nationalities to obtain visas on arrival, which is an important and positive step.
Regarding Qatar’s respond to GCC crisis, he said: “Qatar has responded extremely well to the crisis to the challenges at all levels. If we look in terms of economy it is really in good shape. Qatar is very active internationally and has strengthened its relationship with many countries in the world.”
Sharma also highlighted three important things regarding Qatar and UK relations saying: “The last four years were extremely positive in UK and Qatar relations. Everyone talks about the history of our relationship whether it is relationship between government to government, people to people or ties between the businesses, relations have grown stronger in every field.”
He said that the cooperation in the field of sports has also increased and the UK wants Qatar to host a successful 2022 FIFA World Cup and “we want to be part of that success”.
“We are sharing our experience in this regard with Qatar. The UK is participating in the infrastructure works and is also working with Qatar in the field of security and on how to manage all people who will come to attend the FIFA World Cup 2022.” “I have to thank Qatar for its hospitality and its people’s friendly attitude.”