Leaders of Croatia and Qatar expressed hopes to enhance economic cooperation here on Monday as Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic at the beginning of his two-day visit.
“The development of relations with the Gulf countries is of great importance to Croatia,” said Grabar-Kitarovic.
“Our future relationship can be enhanced in the areas of energy, tourism, food industry, high technology, health and defense industries,” said the Qatari emir.
Trade between the two countries amounted to 63.9 million U.S. dollars in 2017. Croatia exported to Qatar goods and services in the amount of 62.9 million U.S. dollars, while Qatar’s export to Croatia reached one million U.S. dollars.
Qatar has shown interest in investing in Croatian tourism. In the first ten months of this year, 6,000 tourists from Qatar visited Croatia.
Sheikh Al Thani invited the Croatian president to visit Qatar in 2022 again when that country will host the World Cup.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic also received the Qatari emir and concluded that relations between the two countries are friendly.
Plenkovic expressed satisfaction with the signing of bilateral agreements and cooperation agreements in the field of culture, sport, agriculture, education and science, Xinhua reports.
(Photo: HRT)
