Bulgaria can become a platform for Qatar's business in the region of Southeast Europe
25 February 2014 News
The relations between Bulgaria and Qatar have never been at such a level, with so intense political dialogue. Today's meeting is a continuation of this dialogue and provides the opportunity to plan the next steps towards achieving concrete results, said Kristian Vigenin during the meeting with his Qatari counterpart Dr. Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah.
"We have excellent relations that are developing throughout the years," said Minister Al Attiyah, adding that there is a common future for the two countries. "The good dialogue and cooperation that binds us together will lead to the realization of positive results," he pointed out.
The Bulgarian Foreign Minister, who is on a one-day official visit to the State of Qatar, met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, the Minister of Finance, Ali Al Emadi, and the Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Sultan Bin Rashid Al-Khater.
Kristian Vigenin introduced the hosts with the outcome of the meeting of the Visegrad Group countries and Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, which was held in Budapest. He presented also the project of a new South-North Corridor, part of which is the construction of a liquefied gas terminal in Greece. In March an expert group meeting on this project will be held in Sofia and the Bulgarian Foreign Minister invited Qatar to participate in it.
During the conversation with the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, Vigenin focused on the stable banking system in Bulgaria, emphasizing the possibility of Qatar to take steps towards obtaining a license for the establishment of a banking institution or acquiring such, pointing out that this will give impetus to the perspective of Bulgaria to become a platform for Qatar's business in the region of Southeast Europe and the EU countries.
Minister Vigenin expressed gratitude to his host for the invitation sent to the Prime Minister Oresharski to visit Qatar and expressed satisfaction with the past visit of the Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev and the forthcoming visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev in Qatar on 10 - 12 March his year.
They also discussed the proposal to set up a joint fund to promote the small and medium enterprises, facilitate the issue of visas for Bulgarian citizens, projects of mutual interest, including the speed road "Ruse-Svilengrad", as well as support for the inclusion of Qatar in the positive visa-free list of the European Union.
During the meeting topical issues on the international agenda were also discussed, including the situation in Syria, the developments of the Middle East peace process and the situation in Ukraine. During the visit Minister Vigenin will hold a meeting with the Bulgarian community in Qatar.
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