Oman, Qatar sign MoU on joint food sector projects and export

Muscat: Oman and Qatar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on food production and marketing, joint investment and export of Omani products to Qatar.
The signing came during an official session of talks between the Sultanate and the State of Qatar held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Muscat.
The session was chaired from the Sultanate’s side by Dr. Fu’ad bin Ja’afar Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries whilst the session was headed from the Qatari side by Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment.
The session touched on fields of agriculture, livestock and fisheries, as well as ways to develop them and open wider avenues to promote cooperation and exchange of experiences and views between the two countries.
On the other hand, Dr. Fu’ad bin Ja’afar Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries received in his office Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment in the State Qatar, who is currently visiting the Sultanate.
The two sides discussed matters of common concern related to fields of cooperation between the two brotherly countries in the agricultural, animal and fisheries sectors, as well as ways of developing them and joint cooperation in these sectors. They also discussed enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the field of food security, as well as ways to develop investment fields in the agricultural, animal and fish sectors.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Ahmed bin Nasser Al Bakri, Undersecretary of Agriculture, Hamad bin Said Al Oufi, Undersecretary of Fisheries and directors general in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Dr. Fu’ad bin Ja’afar Al Sajwani Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, said in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the signing the MoU comes within the framework of the close bilateral relations between the Sultanate and the sisterly State of Qatar. He pointed out that the MoU dealt with food production and marketing, joint investment and export of Omani products to Qatar.
He added that the MoU included ways to explore the possible opportunities for investment in the Sultanate in the fish, agriculture and food sectors. He affirmed the existence of a partnership between the Sultanate and Qatar in this aspect and there is an approach from the Qatari side to take advantage of the opportunities available for investment in the Sultanate.
Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, Minister of Municipalities and Environment in Qatar affirmed that the strategic relations between the two countries are at the highest level and they are very clear. He pointed out that signing the MoU comes within the framework of enhancing the existing cooperation between the two countries in areas of common concern.
He added that the State of Qatar has many investments in various fields in Oman. He aspires to invest in the Special Economic Zone of Duqm (SEZD) in areas of food industries, strategic storage and investment in some fishing ports, as well as the development of infrastructure and urban projects within the urban planning of the coastal areas, especially fishing harbours due to their importance to food industries and food security.