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Latvia expresses interest in building economic cooperation with Qatar

Xinhua, January 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Latvia is interested in building economic cooperation with Qatar, Latvian President Andris Berzins told Qatar's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah in Riga on Friday.

The Latvian president met with the visiting Qatar's foreign minister to discuss bilateral economic ties considering Qatar's interest in Latvian food products, the presidential press service reported.

Although trade between Latvia and Qatar has yet to be started, Latvia is highly interested in building such cooperation, Berzins said, adding that both countries had already expressed intentions to develop potential and mutually beneficial cooperation.

"Exploring new external markets is one of Latvia's current priorities and we think that Qatar could become a significant sales market for Latvian farmers and food producers," the Latvian president said.

A bilateral agreement on cooperation in agriculture and food industry will be signed during Latvian Agriculture Minister Janis Duklavs' visit to Qatar, which is likely to take place in February.

Qatar's foreign minister congratulated Latvia on assuming the presidency of the Council of the EU and called for stepping cooperation between the EU and Gulf nations.

Berzins said that the Latvian presidency would pay increased attention to improving the EU's relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council and developing political relations with Gulf nations. Enditem