Doha: Bilateral trade between Qatar and Malaysia increased by 38 percent to QR2.4 bn in 2021 from QR1.8 bn two years back, Chairman of Qatar Chamber (QC) Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani stated during their meeting with the Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities H E Zuraida Kamaruddin at the Chamber’s headquarters yesterday.

Both leaders studied boosting cooperation ties; Sheikh Khalifa repeated that Malaysia is one of Qatar’s important trade partners.

In the meeting, they also discussed the ways in order to improve and develop collaboration and trade ties between the Qatari and Malaysian private sectors in the commercial and economic fields.

They also discussed the climate of investment and opportunities available in both countries in the agriculture and food security fields and the possibility of forging partnerships between companies and people in business from both sides.

While speaking during the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa applauded the close ties between both countries and announced that they had witnessed considerable development in all sectors and fields over the recent years.

The duo of countries’ trade exchange hit QR 2.4bn in 2021 compared to QR1.8bn in 2020, showing an increase of 38 percent despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Sheikh Khalifa highlighted the Chamber’s support for the Qatar-Malaysia Business Council, which was established in 2017, and confirmed its sensitivity in order to perform its role in enhancing cooperation between both countries’ business sectors.

He added that many Malaysian companies are operating in Qatar in several sectors, while there are many Qatari investments in Malaysia in industries like tourism, banking, real estate, and industry.

The Malaysian Minister praised the boom Qatar caught in all fields and reviewed the sectors in which both sides can cooperate, such as construction, infrastructure, agriculture, halal, and SMEs.

Furthermore, Kamaruddin invited the Qatari investors and people in business to invest in her country, which provided plenty of opportunities in several sectors, highlighting the importance of underscoring commercial and investment cooperation between both countries.