Pres. Ali opens Qatar visit with investment talks, eyes deeper economic ties

Investment cooperation topped the agenda as President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, touched down in Doha on Sunday (September 6) for the start of a three-day State Visit to Qatar. Over the coming days, the president is slated to hold a series of high-level engagements to expand Guyana’s economic partnerships in the Gulf region.

President Ali is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd.

On arrival at Hamad International Airport, the delegation was received by Qatar’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, and Guyana’s Ambassador to Qatar, Safraaz Ahmad Shadood, with the president accorded a Guard of Honour.

President Ali’s first stop was a meeting with Mohammed Saif al Sowaidi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatar’s state-owned sovereign wealth fund.

A statement from President Ali’s official social media page said QIA is currently advancing a major hospitality and real estate development in Georgetown.

The fund is also “examining other investment collaborations with Guyana.”

Energy cooperation was another focus of the president’s state visit.

A separate meeting brough President Ali together with Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi.

“This engagement forms part of the ongoing bilateral discussions between our governments,” the president said.

Finance was also on the agenda, with President Ali holding talks with Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwar, Qatar’s Minister of Finance.

The two leaders discussed “several areas of cooperation between our two countries, including collaboration between the Qatar Development Bank and the Guyana Development Bank, the investment fund, and other opportunities,” the president stated.

Doha is familiar ground for the Guyanese Leader, who last visited in May 2023 for meetings with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, as well as an outreach session with the Guyanese diaspora community.

Guyana and Qatar established diplomatic relations in 1996, and bilateral ties have since grown through high-level visits, the opening of diplomatic missions, cooperation agreements, and rising Qatari commercial interest in Guyana. [DPI]