Cruise line between Qatar and Iran to open during World Cup

Tribune News Network Doha A cruise line linking Iran’s Bushehr Port with the Hamad International Port will be inaugurated during the FIFA World Cup 2022 to...

Tribune News NetworkDohaA cruise line linking Iran’s Bushehr Port with the Hamad International Port will be inaugurated during the FIFA World Cup 2022 to be held in Qatar later this year, Iranian Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Ali Reza Beyman has said.Beyman, who is also the Head of Iranian Trade Promotion Organization, said 3,000 Iranian football fans will visit Doha during the World Cup between November and December 2022.He was addressing a Qatari Businessmen Association delegation headed by QBA First Deputy to the Chairman Hussein Ibrahim Al Fardan and board member Saud Al Mana.Bayman said ahead of the World Cup, Qatar and Iran would enhance cooperation in two more areas — commodities supply and tourism.Cargo flights will soon start services between Iran and Qatar to enhance commodity supply capacities which will be of significance during the football spectacle, he said, adding that an air freight corridor between the countries has already been established.Agreements in this regard between Iranian export associations and large Qatari stories have already been concluded, he said.Agreements have also been reached to tap capabilities of Iran to attract tourists during the World Cup, he said, adding that potential tourism opportunities could be found in cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz, as well as the southern coasts of Iran.Beyman also emphasized the positive role that the Qatari Businessmen Association can play in developing trade exchange between the two countries by strengthening cooperation between Qatari and Iranian companies, which will contribute to boosting trade between them.He also indicated that the recent visit of the Iranian president to Doha, which was followed by an official visit by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the state of Qatar, confirmed the will to strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries, noting that Iran’s trade exchanges with the world amount to $100 billion, and there is a will to develop them with Qatar, where the volume of trade exchange is about 777 million Qatari riyals in 2021, pointing out that there are many Iranian companies operating in the Qatari market in partnership with Qatari companies in various sectors, most notably trade and services.He added: “We are planning a billion-dollar trade development between the two countries, which is achievable”. Also, issues such as providing food and products that Qatar needs for the World Cup, providing food security and preparing for the presence of Qataris in Iran for the agriculture sector, industrial cooperation and exporting carpets Handicrafts and other products, establishing a business center in Qatar, solving Iranian businessmen’s problems in registering companies and obtaining residency, were all among the topics discussedFor his part, Hussein Al Fardan, confirmed the interest and keenness of both sides to enhance economic and trade relations and develop trade exchange, thanks to the directions of the leadership of the two countries, adding that there are many opportunities to enhance cooperation between the Qatari and Iranian private sectors in various fields such as tourism, industry and trade, there are also many incentives and privileges provided by both countries.The Iranian trade center has been established in Qatar with the private sector, where it will work on many products such as medicine, food and building materials, in addition to establishing a medical coordination office affiliated to the trade centre that will promote medical tourism in a number of Iranian cities at highly competitive pricesQBA board member and a partner of the Iranian Trade Center Saud Al Mana confirmed that the centre would do everything in its power to provide the local market with food products and will provide the necessary facilities to promote tourism between the two countries and provide investment opportunities for businessmen, especially that the investment climate in Qatar is attractive to foreign investors.