Topi visits Qatar

The Emir of Qatar, the Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has expressed that he has a weakness for Albania. The fact is that although the relations between the two countries were established by August 1992, the political relations have had extraordinary improvements in the last two years: both countries have opened embassies in the respective capitals, and by January 2011 Qatar recognized Kosovo’s independence. During this time, the Emir of Qatar visited Tirana while Doha was visited by the Albanian Minister of Defense, the Prime Minister, the Albanian President and a few days ago, even the Mayor of Tirana.

For the Albanian President, this is his second visit to Doha, but the first official one, with a direct invitation by the Emir. The diplomatic councilors and our embassy have given to the President a folder with the subjects to be discussed. The Qatari investors are ready to come to Albania, but they need concrete projects. The country has money to invest, having a suffice of 7 billion USD in the last week, and the highest GDP per capita in the world, with more than 80.000 USD annually.  The entire wealth of the country comes from the oil, around 1.1 million barrels daily, and the gas price increase.

Qatar  has signed 10 agreements with Albania, starting from the economic cooperation agreement and the twinning of Tirana with Doha, while six other agreements are undergoing.

During the meeting with the Emir, the President thanked him for his readiness to finance the Tirana Municipaly project to extend the Zog I boulevard beyond the Train’s Station to Paskuqan. During the unofficial meeting with the President’s councilors, the Minister of Transports and of the Local Administration had a direct phone call with Mayor Basha.

The Emir of Qatar reconfirmed to the Albanian President the will of his country to invest in Albania, a country that can be Balkan’s gate for Qatar, and with a Muslim tradition that could make the investments even easier.

In a time of global crisis, when the US has no other means to ask China’s engagement in the American economy by buying US Treasury bonds, Albania could benefit from the Islamic Conference Organization membership.

But the Qatari people are first of all businessmen. Before investing, they need concrete projects and ideas. It will be up to the Albanian government to decide if they are able to attract the Qatari investments. This will be seen by the end of March, when the Foreign Minister, Edmond Haxhinasto, will attend a visit for presenting nine concrete projects.

Top Channel