Economic ties with RI important, says Qatar

DUBAI (Antara): Qatari Emir Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has said his country is paying great attention to economic cooperation with Indonesia.

The Qatari Emir made the remark during his meeting with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Ali Alatas at his office here over the weekend.

Alatas quoted Al Thani as saying that Qatar wanted to have close cooperation with Indonesia in the marketing of natural gas so that they could avoid unhealthy competition in the marketing of the commodity.

Qatar has recently found large gas fields, making it one of the world's natural gas producers and exporters.

Alatas also said Qatar has the potential to invest in Indonesia by setting up joint ventures with local companies and making direct investment.

"But this has not happened because both sides have little knowledge of each other's potential," he said.

The Middle East country has so far invested in several European countries, he said.

"Should Qatar invest in Indonesia, it could market (its commodities) not only in the country with a population of 200 million but also in other ASEAN countries," he said.

He said the Qatari Emir intended to visit some Asian countries, including Indonesia early next year.

Alatas said the Indonesian people and government warmly welcome the Qatari Emir's plan to visit ASEAN countries, Indonesia in particular. "But we still have to make further contact (about the planned visit) through diplomatic channel," he said.

During the meeting, Alatas also reported on the outcome of his meeting with the Qatari counterpart about agreements the two countries would sign in the near future.

The agreements concerned technical and economic cooperation and avoidance of double taxation, he said, adding officials from the countries would likely hold bilateral discussions as a follow-up to the visit to reach an air link agreement.

Alatas also said the Qatari Emir also extended invitations to ASEAN countries to attend the forthcoming Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) Summit Meeting held in Qatar.

Alatas visited Qatar on the third leg of a three-nation tour which also took him to Pakistan and United Arab Emirates.

In Pakistan, he attended a special summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) held in conjunction with the country's 50th anniversary which falls on March 23.

He arrived in Jakarta on March 29.