MOLDPRES INTERVIEW // Ambassador of State of Qatar to Moldova: We are working to improve ways of attracting Qatari investors to Moldovan market

Interview with His Excellency Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Moldova, granted exclusively to MOLDPRES State News Agency.

Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Chișinău, Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud states that Moldovan-Qatari diplomatic relations, established in 1997 and strengthened by the opening of embassies in Doha and Chișinău have entered a new stage in which political dialogue must be transformed into a concrete economic and investment partnership, with a focus on energy, IT and technology, healthcare, civil aviation, tourism and agriculture.

The official emphasizes that the Republic of Moldova offers real advantages for Qatari investors – fertile land, an attractive geographical position, skilled workforce and a stimulating tax regime – while the country’s EU accession process by 2030 provides additional guarantees for the protection of foreign capital and predictable investment environment.

MOLDPRES: Your Excellency, considering the evolution of diplomatic relations between State of Qatar and the Republic of Moldova since 1997, how would you assess the current stage of bilateral cooperation? In your view, what are the short- and medium-term strategic priorities for transforming the existing political dialogue into a sustainable economic and investment partnership?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: Allow me to thank you for inviting me to participate in this interview for MOLDPRES State News Agency.

It is my pleasure to point out that the diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Moldova were established 28 years ago, specifically in 1997, and culminated in the opening of the embassies of the two countries in Doha and Chisinau, almost 11 years ago, during which this period witnessed promising cooperation at the diplomatic, developmental and social levels, and we are in continuous development, and we are working to push and expand this cooperation to include economic fields and investment and trade, by working to highlight the investment opportunities inherent in the Republic of Moldova for the Qatari investor and increasing the volume of trade exchange and Qatari direct investment in the Moldovan market, as well as working on the exchange of visits and experiences between businessmen in the two countries, and activating the contents of the agreements signed between the two countries that serve this path.

MOLDPRES: You recently held a meeting with Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu. Could you please elaborate on the main topics discussed, any preliminary understandings reached, and the approximate timeframe in which these commitments could develop into tangible projects for the business environment and local communities?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: I congratulate His Excellency Mr. Alexandru Munteanu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova on his assumption of the presidency of the government, as well as the ministers in his government, and we wish them success in their tasks.

I was honored to hold a meeting with Mr. Munteanu, to convey congratulations and greetings of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the state of Qatar, on his appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova.

During the meeting, I stressed the continuity and strength of bilateral relations between our two friendly countries, and the opening of prospects for cooperation in all fields, especially economic and investment, as we are currently working to enhance ways to attract Qatari investors to invest in the Moldovan market, especially in promising areas in the Republic of Moldova, to which Mr. Munteanu referred during the meeting, the most important of which are energy, information technology and technology; healthcare; civil aviation and other projects of interest to both sides, and we hope to see significant progress in the near future, as we spare no effort in transferring constructive proposals and projects that are put to us from the Moldovan side to Doha.

MOLDPRES: Given Moldova’s objective of joining the European Union by 2030, how does the State of Qatar perceive its role as an external partner in supporting macroeconomic stability and institutional reforms required, and what types of support (investment, technical assistance, or public-private partnerships) do you consider most effective in facilitating this transition?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: We wish the Republic of Moldova success to achieve progress on the path of EU membership, which will lead to achieving positive results in the development and harmonization of many areas, frameworks and legislation during this path, the most important of which are areas related to trade, investment and infrastructure, which lead to expanding the base of foreign investment and provide advantages and incentives to attract a larger number of external investors, and this requires concerted efforts from countries friendly to the Republic of Moldova, including the state of Qatar, through cooperation in transferring expertise to modernize target areas such as education, healthcare, economic development, infrastructure and other areas necessary to achieve progress on the path of accession to the European Union.

The Republic of Moldova has many opportunities that attract foreign investors, and of course the Qatari investor, and this is due to several factors, primarily its fertile and ideal land for setting up agricultural projects, the distinguished geographical and historical location that contributes to the development of tourism cooperation, the use of professional labor, as well as the stimulating taxation system for Qatari investors, and from my point of view, the two sides should strive in the near future to have an exchange of visits and meetings between businessmen in the two countries, as well as the exchange of invitations to interested parties in the state of Qatar and the Republic of Moldova, such as the Chamber of Commerce and industry and the investment agency of the Republic of Moldova for exchange.

This will give more attractiveness and interest to investment opportunities and will allow delegations to get a closer look and get information about the areas and sectors of the Moldovan economy of interest to the Qatari investors.

MOLDPRES: Qatar is internationally recognized for its major investments in infrastructure and development. Are there plans for similar investment projects in the Republic of Moldova? Which sectors of the Moldovan economy do you consider most promising and attractive for Qatari investors, and what conditions or guarantees would facilitate the decision of Qatari companies to enter and invest in our country?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: Of course, it is possible that there will be opportunities for Qatari investments in the Republic of Moldova, whether through the Qatar Investment Authority, or through other economic, investment and commercial entities in the State of Qatar, which will reflect positively on the Moldovan citizen and the country's overall economy.

As I mentioned earlier, there are many promising economic sectors in Moldova that represent an attraction for the Qatari investor, for example, energy projects, information technology and technology, healthcare, civil aviation, tourism and others. However, it is important that there are incentives and advantages provided by the Moldovan government to Qatari investors who wish to enter the Moldovan market, whether through bilateral agreements signed between our two friendly countries, as well as the availability of legislation and laws that help create a suitable environment for investment and provide protection for foreign capital, which is what we are currently seeing in the Republic of Moldova through its aspiration to join the European Union by 2030.

MOLDPRES: Your Excellency, how does the Embassy, together with Qatari partners, intend to promote cultural, educational and professional-training exchanges between the two countries, so that these become a genuine vector for strengthening socio-economic ties? What initiatives have you planned or proposed in this regard—such as scholarships for students, youth exchange programs, or joint projects in healthcare or research?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: The embassy of the state of Qatar has excellent relations with the relevant educational and cultural authorities in the Republic of Moldova, foremost of which is the Ministry of Education and Research, as well as both public and private universities and the Ministry of Culture. We are always open to developing cooperation in these areas by contributing to educational and cultural projects. We are also working to establish bridges of communication between educational institutions and universities between the two countries, which has led to carrying out the initiatives and signing the memorandums of understanding that will be reflected on scholarship programs and youth exchange programs positively.

MOLDPRES: What recommendations would you offer to Moldovan citizens interested in professional or business opportunities in Qatar? What are the qualification requirements, secure recruitment channels, and how can they identify local partnerships to facilitate their access to this market?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: The framework of Qatari labor laws is based on strong employment standards, ensures the protection of workers' rights and promotes a productive and fair work environment, based on advanced policies and regulations, in line with international agreements and reflects the state's commitment to developing a skilled workforce that supports sustainable economic growth. In this context, Qatar national vision for 2030 promotes the importance of an empowered workforce committed to business ethics, and defines a strategy to increase the participation of Qataris in the workforce and diversify it, as well as attracting talent and expatriate workers, while protecting rights and ensuring safety.

To support the implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar passed laws to protect the rights of workers, in accordance with international conventions and the best practices. These laws govern the relationship between workers and their employers, and provide a framework for fair and equitable treatment between the two parties, and job seekers can do this through the media or Qatari, Arab and foreign job sites that offer many diverse jobs and occur constantly.

MOLDPRES: How do you assess the impact of technology and innovation on trade and economic relations between Qatar and the Republic of Moldova? What initiatives or partnerships would you like to develop in order to encourage cooperation in emerging technologies and digitalization?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: Technology and innovation strengthen Qatari-Moldovan relations by developing and improving logistics efficiency, opening new markets through e-commerce, deepening cooperation in the high-tech and logistics sectors, which supports Qatar's goals of economic diversification (Qatar Vision 2030) and opens up opportunities for Moldovan technology companies, especially with the advanced infrastructure of G5 and artificial intelligence in Qatar, to promote joint investment and sustainable growth on both sides.

We hope that in the near future there will be a development in trade between our two friendly countries through smart logistics, e-commerce platforms and data analytics, which will help companies understand the Qatari and Moldovan consumer and adapt products, which will enhance exports and imports, as well as enhance cooperation in other advanced technology areas.

The state of Qatar is open and welcomes cooperation with Moldovan
companies specializing in emerging technologies and digitization, which is of interest and a close foundation stone for long-term cooperation between the two sides. Comprehensive trade agreements will contribute to diversifying trade flows and enhancing cooperation in digital technology, manufacturing and services, and open pathways for Moldovan companies to invest in Qatar and vice versa.

MOLDPRES: In the context of Qatar National Vision 2030, which key elements of this vision do you believe could be adapted or replicated within the development strategy of the Republic of Moldova?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: The main elements of the Qatar National Vision 2030 are represented by four main pillars: human development, social development, economic development and environmental development.

It aims to develop educated citizens, safe society, a competitive and sustainable economy, balanced environmental management, with a focus on sustainability and modernization of society while preserving traditions, and achieving well-being for current and future generations.

In general, the visions of the state of Qatar provide a flexible framework from which the Republic of Moldova can be inspired to design an integrated and sustainable national development strategy commensurate with its unique challenges and opportunities, where the principles and values of the vision of the state of Qatar can be adapted within the framework of the development strategy of the Republic of Moldova, taking into account the focus on its own priorities through comprehensive long-term planning, and focus on people, diversification and innovation, and environmental sustainability. Especially since Moldova is a country with natural resources, as well as good governance, promoting the values of social cohesion.

MOLDPRES: What are the three priority objectives you have set for the next three years? What measurable results do you aim to achieve for each of them, and what concrete call to action would you address to Moldovan authorities, business community and civil society to help accomplish these goals?

Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Zaid Al-Mahmoud: The priorities of cooperation between the state of Qatar and the Republic of Moldova, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, are based on economic development (diversification, investment, agriculture), human development (education, health) and environmental sustainability, while strengthening cooperation in sectors such as energy, tourism and transport through trade and technical agreements to enhance mutual benefits and develop capabilities in the two countries over the coming years.

To achieve tangible progress in these directions, we see the importance of activating bilateral agreements in related fields, especially since we have many agreements signed between the two sides, such as trade, tourism, education, health and other conventions, as well as encouraging visits of Investors and the exchange of experiences between the two sides at the level of institutions and the business community has an effective role in this context, because it will allow the effective use of Qatari expertise in the management of major projects and infrastructure development in the Republic of Moldova, especially since the state of Qatar has a long history and great and advanced experience in these important and vital areas at the regional and international levels.