Qatar’s Ambassador to Egypt : Says Working to Achieve Maximum Level of Rapprochement

Qatar’s Ambassador to Egypt Salem bin Mubarak al-Shafi said that the two countries are working to achieve the maximum possible level of rapprochement in their bilateral relations after restoring ties.

In a statement after handing over his credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to Cairo, Shafi said he felt all the welcome, friendliness, and hospitality from the Egyptian side.

In the latest steps of rapprochement between the two countries, Shafi handed over his credentials to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, based on the AlUla Declaration that was signed in Saudi Arabia last January, ending the three-years dispute between Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt with Qatar.

Egypt is a country of “strategic weight, and its pivotal role in the region cannot be neglected,” stressed Shafi.

He indicated that the peoples of both countries are brothers who are deeply connected by identity, language, and social and cultural heritage.

He stressed that Egypt is a country with a significant impact on Arabs, adding: “I am very optimistic and proud to work on this matter in my capacity as the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Arab Republic of Egypt.”

Shafi asserted that he will “not hesitate to work on strengthening and consolidating those relations and will also work to bring views closer and remove obstacles that may stand in the way.”

The Ambassador revealed the mutual desire between the two sides to strengthen their bilateral relations.

Shafi explained that the genuine will of the leaders of the two countries to achieve rapprochement and strengthen ties is tangible through the joint meetings, the Qatar-Egypt Follow-up Committee emanating from the AlUla Declaration in Saudi Arabia, the exchange of Ambassadors, and the positive statements by both sides.

Agreements are usually set up to regulate, organize and facilitate different aspects of relations between the two sides in various sectors, so either these agreements are activated, or new ones are developed according to the requirements of the time, he explained.

According to the Ambassador, new agreements have already been signed during the last meeting of the Qatar-Egypt Follow-up Committee in Doha, adding that there is an upcoming meeting next October.

He stressed that Egypt is a fertile land for investment and a tourist destination that contains various historical treasures.

The Ambassador said that Doha would work to raise bilateral trade volume, facilitate mutual investments, and remove obstacles that may prevent that.

Qatar already has many investments in Egypt, and the Qatar Investment Authority alone has investments estimated at $3.317 billion in resorts and tourism projects.

He also said that the number of Egyptian companies operating in Qatar increased about 14 percent compared to 2017, noting that Doha desires to expand and improve investment opportunities.

Last month, Sisi met the Emir of Qatar on the sidelines of the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership for the first time after years of tension between the two countries.