Qatar calls on Turkish firms to do construction work for World Cup

Qatar's ambassador to Ankara, Salem Mubarak Al-Shafi, said Qatar is happy with the work of Turkish construction companies operating in the country, adding that Qatar wants these companies to undertake construction projects ahead of the World Cup that will be held in the country in 2022.

Customs and Trade Minister Bülent Tüfenkci welcomed Al-Shafi to his office in Ankara. Al-Shafi said that Turkish-Qatari political, military and security-related relations are at "a high level" and that the two countries aim to improve economic relations as well. Underlining that Qatar wants a greater presence of Turkish construction and contracting companies in the country, Al-Shafi said that Qatar aspires to increase agricultural investments with Turkey.

According to Al-Shafi, Qatar aims to sign a customs cooperation agreement with Turkey at this year's High Strategic Committee meeting in order to ensure mutual assistance and cooperation in customs transactions.

Tüfenkci said the improvement of Turkish-Qatari relations will continue to contribute to regional security and stability and stressed that regional developments should urge countries to be in closer cooperation. "Turkey views its relations with Gulf countries from a strategic perspective," he added.

Tüfenkci also stated that cooperation between the two friendly nations will contribute to the rise of trade, continuing that a customs cooperation agreement, which will be signed to boost cooperation between the customs administrations of both countries, will be a great opportunity to overcome the existing troubles.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the World Cup Supreme Committee of Qatar, which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, decided to sign a collaboration agreement with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF). The committee members visited Turkey and toured the TFF's facilities in Riva, Istanbul and looked at Galatasaray's Türk Telekom Arena and Beşiktaş's Vodafone Arena from a helicopter. The last stop was Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium.

General secretary of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Supreme Committee of Qatar, Hassan al-Thawadi, said Turkey has come a long way in football and is more developed in football thanks to successful results for the national team. "There are many fields that we will collaborate in as two sister nations. The sports facilities in Turkey, both in terms of human power and capital, are astonishing. You have come a longer way than we have. We plan to follow your path with the investments that we will make," Thawadi said. Thawadi, who was told that the TFF's facilities in Riva were completed in a record time of 18 months, said: "It is incredible. Building a place like this in a very short time shows how professional things are done here."

He said that during their meeting with Youth and Sports Minister Akif Çağatay Kılıç they learned that 29 new stadiums were built quickly in Turkey. He said: "Turkish firms have gained really important experience. They can build stadiums in a very short period of time. Beşiktaş's stadium is amazing and has a huge capacity. Galatasary's stadium is already world famous. Turkish firms' progress in terms of quality and time is obvious, and we have many cooperation opportunities. Turkish contracting companies have shown their capacity to work at the international level. There are also many firms working on infrastructure projects. That's why there are great opportunities for the two countries to collaborate."

The deputy president of the Turkish Football Federation, Servet Yıldırım, said that a memorandum of understanding will be signed between the two countries. The two countries will support each other in terms of facilities, sharing know-how and infrastructure, according to Yıldırım. "As sister countries, Qatar and Turkey have a lot to share, especially in the fields of infrastructure and knowledge. There are many areas between Turkey and Qatar to cooperate," said Yıldırım.