Qatar to make direct investment of $15B in Turkey

By Kemal Karadag

ANKARA

Qatar will make $15 billion of direct investment in Turkey, Qatar’s leader said on a visit to Ankara on Wednesday, said Turkey’s presidential spokesman.

"Qatar has pledged $15 billion of direct investments in Turkey," tweeted Ibrahim Kalin after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar's emir, in the capital Ankara.

“Turkish-Qatari relations are based on solid foundations of true friendship and solidarity,” Kalin added.

According to the Turkish presidential press office, Erdogan and al-Thani also exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments during their three-hour meeting.

In an interview Wednesday with Anadolu Agency, Qatar’s Ambassador to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak Al-Shafi said: “The state of Qatar is always proactive in supporting its Turkish brothers.”

Al-Thani’s visit, the diplomat said, “will serve to confirm the close links between the Qatari and Turkish people and their common positions vis-à-vis the many challenges they face.”

He added: “Our strong relations with the Republic of Turkey enjoy a special status among our people.”

Tweeting later on Wednesday, al-Thani said: "We are together with Turkey and our brothers there, who stand by Qatar and problems of the Ummah."

Al-Thani said they have announced an investment project package worth $15 billion in Turkey which has a "productive, strong and solid economy".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his meeting with al-Thani was "very productive and positive".

Erdogan thanked the emir and Qatari people for standing with Turkey.

"Our relations with friendly and brotherly country Qatar will continue to strengthen in many areas," the president wrote on his Twitter account.

* Diyar Guldogan from Ankara contributed to this story