On November 14, within the framework of a working visit to the State of Qatar First Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv met with Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.

During the meeting, the First Vice Prime Minister placed a special emphasis on strategic importance of the development of Ukraine-Qatar trade and economic cooperation, as well as the development of mutually rewarding energy contacts and investment cooperation between the two countries.

"Ukraine confirms its readiness for mutually beneficial cooperation with Qatar in the continuation of the agreements reached during the visit of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in March 2018. We also offer Qatari companies to join Ukrainian investment projects in the fields of energy, agriculture, infrastructure and others, in particular, privatization as one of such tools," Stepan Kubiv claimed during the meeting.

The First Vice Prime Minister outlined new opportunities for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to the Qatari markets and emphasized that the agrarian industry is open to large-scale investments, in particular, in the deep processing of environmentally friendly agricultural raw materials.

"Ukraine is one of the top cereals and sunflower seed producing countries, and we are ready for a meaningful dialogue to increase the export of agricultural products to Qatar and other countries of the region on mutually beneficial terms and on a long-term basis," Stepan Kubiv stated.

He stressed that the trade and economic sphere is one of the most promising directions of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Qatar.

"According to the results of the first eight months of 2018, the Ukrainian-Qatar trade turnover has increased by 16.1%, but these volumes of trade do not correspond to the existing potential. We should in synergy to shape effective mechanisms and unveil opportunities for strengthening trade between our countries and the development of other promising spheres of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Qatar, " the First Vice Prime Minister emphasized.

In the course of the meeting, the parties touched upon issues pertaining to development of bilateral cooperation, strengthening of trade and economic relations, interaction between business circles of Ukraine and Qatar, exchange of experience in various spheres and cooperation.