Invited by the State of Qatar to participate in the Doha Forum, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Luis Alberto Castiglioni, held working meetings with the country’s authorities linked to the commerce, industry and investment sectors.
The Doha Forum is a platform for dialogue between political and economic leaders from around the world, in which the main global challenges and problems are addressed. In its twentieth edition that took place on March 26 and 27, 2022, this year’s theme was “Transforming for a new era”, with a focus on four main areas: geopolitical alliances and international relations, financial systems and economic development, defense, food and cyber security, climate change and sustainability.
In this framework, Minister Castiglioni was received in audience by the Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al-Abdullah Al Thani, at the headquarters of said State portfolio, on which occasion they reviewed to the main areas in which the economic and commercial relationship between the two countries have development potential, following up on the meeting they held in November 2021. Ministers Castiglioni and Al Thani identified food security as the main area on which they work through the designated focal points, and for his part, Castiglioni raised the possibility of Qatari investors investing in Paraguay in the production and industrialization of food for export to the Qatari market. Minister Al Thani showed a special interest in the grains produced by Paraguay and also requested a detailed report on the Paraguayan economy, the exportable supply and investment projects in order to study it and share it with the relevant investors, which will be sent to the brevity.
In this regard, both ministers agreed to promote an upcoming meeting between businessmen from both countries, as the space from which the representatives of the private sector can advance the commercial link, with a view to an upcoming presidential visit.
Likewise, the Paraguayan head of the Industry and Commerce portfolio met with the executive director of the Qatar Investment Authority, Mansour Ibrahim Al-Mahmood, at the Doha Forum headquarters, who highlighted his country’s interest in investments in the renewable energy sector. Minister Castiglioni reviewed the macroeconomic stability of the country, the main incentives offered to foreign investment, as well as existing initiatives in the renewable energy sector, particularly for the production of green hydrogen, and it was agreed to follow up on to future specific projects for investment.
Likewise, he was also received by the economic adviser of His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, who had previously served as Minister of Economy and Trade of the State of Qatar and in that capacity, had accompanied the visit of His Highness the Emir to Paraguay in October 2018. Minister Castiglioni referred to the topics discussed with the aforementioned authorities and highlighted Paraguay’s main export products, the possibility of Qatari investments in Paraguay in the food sector, as well as the possibility of acquiring fertilizers from Qatar for Paraguayan agriculture, given the country’s condition of being one of the main producers of the item worldwide. The Emir’s economic adviser highlighted the high quality of Qatari fertilizers, facilitated contacts with companies in the sector and recommended organizing a meeting with Paraguayan businessmen
