NewsWhore
11-05-2008, 05:00 PM
President Leonel Fernandez held a round of official talks with the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani of Qatar yesterday at the Emiri Diwan seat of government in Doha, Qatar.
The talks were attended by the Minister of Economy and Finance Yousuf Hussein Kamal, Chief of the Emiri Diwan Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Saud al-Thani, the Minister of State for Energy and Industry Affairs Mohamed Saleh al-Saddah, the Minister of State for International Co-operation Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, among others. For the DR, attending was Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso, Administrative Minister of the Presidency Luis M Bonetti. Also, Minister of the Presidency Cesar Pina Toribio, Exports and Investments head Eddy Martinez and Dominican ambassador to Qatar, Hugo Guiliani Cury.
Scope for co-operation between the two countries and means of bolstering this in all fields, along with a number of issues of mutual concern in the areas of foreign investment, trade, energy, economy, science, art, culture, and environmental protection, were discussed during the talks. A consultation protocol and Memorandum of Understandings were signed between Qatar and the Dominican Republic for cooperation in tourism, energy, technology and agriculture. The heads of states also looked into the possibility of Qatar Airways flying to the DR and creating a regional hub for the airline in the DR.
On the bilateral agenda is the possibility for Qatar to ship natural gas to the DR for transshipment to US markets. Qatar already exports 50% of its natural gas production to the US. Part of the natural gas would also supply the market in the DR. A commission will also look into possibility of the construction of a petroleum refinery to supply the Caribbean, Central American and US markets, making the most of the free trade agreements signed with these regions.
Following the round of talks, the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani presented the Dominican President with the Medal of Independence.
Reciprocating the gesture, Leonel Fernandez presented the Emir with the Grand Cross of Merit.
"What is most concrete is that a mixed commission was created made up by government authorities and private investors from Qatar and DR businesspeople who will travel to Santo Domingo to formalize investment agreements in several areas," said Foreign Minister Carlos Morales. This would provide the foundation for the creation of a Dominican-Qatari Chamber of Commerce, said Morales.
President Fernandez also met with Mansour Al Mahmoud, president of the Qatar Investment Authority.
Diplomatic relations between the DR and Qatar were established in 2007, and former Dominican ambassador in Washington, D.C. Hugo Guiliani Cury was appointed ambassador to Qatar.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
The talks were attended by the Minister of Economy and Finance Yousuf Hussein Kamal, Chief of the Emiri Diwan Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Saud al-Thani, the Minister of State for Energy and Industry Affairs Mohamed Saleh al-Saddah, the Minister of State for International Co-operation Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, among others. For the DR, attending was Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso, Administrative Minister of the Presidency Luis M Bonetti. Also, Minister of the Presidency Cesar Pina Toribio, Exports and Investments head Eddy Martinez and Dominican ambassador to Qatar, Hugo Guiliani Cury.
Scope for co-operation between the two countries and means of bolstering this in all fields, along with a number of issues of mutual concern in the areas of foreign investment, trade, energy, economy, science, art, culture, and environmental protection, were discussed during the talks. A consultation protocol and Memorandum of Understandings were signed between Qatar and the Dominican Republic for cooperation in tourism, energy, technology and agriculture. The heads of states also looked into the possibility of Qatar Airways flying to the DR and creating a regional hub for the airline in the DR.
On the bilateral agenda is the possibility for Qatar to ship natural gas to the DR for transshipment to US markets. Qatar already exports 50% of its natural gas production to the US. Part of the natural gas would also supply the market in the DR. A commission will also look into possibility of the construction of a petroleum refinery to supply the Caribbean, Central American and US markets, making the most of the free trade agreements signed with these regions.
Following the round of talks, the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani presented the Dominican President with the Medal of Independence.
Reciprocating the gesture, Leonel Fernandez presented the Emir with the Grand Cross of Merit.
"What is most concrete is that a mixed commission was created made up by government authorities and private investors from Qatar and DR businesspeople who will travel to Santo Domingo to formalize investment agreements in several areas," said Foreign Minister Carlos Morales. This would provide the foundation for the creation of a Dominican-Qatari Chamber of Commerce, said Morales.
President Fernandez also met with Mansour Al Mahmoud, president of the Qatar Investment Authority.
Diplomatic relations between the DR and Qatar were established in 2007, and former Dominican ambassador in Washington, D.C. Hugo Guiliani Cury was appointed ambassador to Qatar.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)