Chamber to establish Maltese-Qatari business council

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has announced that it will be establishing a Joint Business Council, together with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

An agreement was signed this week between Chamber President Tancred Tabone and Khalif Al-Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber. Also present for the signing was the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Commenting on the agreement, Tabone said that, "the business communities of Qatar and Malta felt the need to step up their relations even further and establish a co-operative body on a private initiative to facilitate continuous interaction between them so as to increase trade and economic co-operation."

Tabone said this has led the two parts to set up a joint business council in order to carry out business promotional activities in trade, investment, technology transfer, services, and other industrial sectors.

"The Council will provide a regular and recognised forum for discussion on promotion of these activities between the business communities of both countries," Tabone said.

Relations between Malta and Qatar have grown over the years, also reflected in the relations between the Malta Chamber and their Qatari counterparts.

The Malta Chamber has been involved in various business missions to Qatar. In 2009, the Malta Chamber was represented during a state visit to Qatar. This was followed by a business delegation from Malta to Qatar in 2010, where Deputy President Stefano Mallia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Chamber.

The Malta Chamber will also be forming part of the delegation leaving for Qatar this week.

The Malta Chamber has already established four other active Business Councils: the Scandinavian Business Forum, the German Maltese Business Council, the Tunisian-Maltese Business Council and the Egyptian Business Council.

"We believe that Business Councils are an effective vehicle to assist companies in their internationalisation efforts and with its strong links to business, both locally and abroad, the Malta Chamber is centrally placed to establish and run these entities," Tabone said.