Qatar & Barbados hold bilateral talks

The finalising of an air services agreement between Barbados and Qatar, access to financing via Qatar’s Fund for Development and opportunities for bilateral investment were some of the areas discussed during a courtesy call with non-resident Ambassador to the State of Qatar to Barbados, Rashid Mohsin A.R. Fetais.

During the meeting at the Ministry’s Culloden Road, St. Michael headquarters recently, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, said Government was keen to strengthen the relationship.

The Senator also informed Ambassador Fetais that discussions were at an advanced stage on a draft Air Services Agreement between the two countries.

Minister Walcott also alluded to the need for a Bilateral Investment Treaty to forge a closer business and working relationship between the two countries, and enquired about Barbados gaining access to the Qatari Government’s Fund for Development.

“We do not know much about it in terms of the approaches and how you approach it to access funding….  I know that approaches have been made through CARICOM, but I am speaking in terms of Barbados,” he stated.

The envoy informed Senator Walcott that his country had invested more than $350 million in projects in more than 60 countries and was willing to provide more assistance to the region during his tenure as Ambassador.

Barbados and Qatar established diplomatic ties on December 4, 2007. (BGIS)