DOHA: Malaysian entrepreneurs have been urged to explore the vast opportunities available in the Qatari market even as they expand their business to other West Asian countries.
Malaysia Qatar Business Council (MQBC) president Datuk Maheran Mohd Salleh said Qatar has many established companies which are willing to collaborate with Malaysian companies in sectors such as oil and gas, health tourism and food safety.
“We hope that Malaysian companies will take advantage of the close relations between Malaysia and Qatar to expand their business here,” she told the Malaysian media here on Dec 11, when Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad began a four-day visit to Qatar.
Offering MQBC as a one-stop centre for local companies and SMEs interested in investing in Qatar, she said: “Previously, many Malaysian companies were unaware of the investment opportunities in Qatar, while some were even worried about investing here.
“MQBC is ready to help Malaysian and Qatari companies in developing strategic business partnerships for investments in both countries,”
Noting that the number of Malaysian companies investing in Qatar is rather small compared with those from Singapore and Indonesia, Maheran disclosed that five Malaysian companies including Gamuda Bhd and WCT Engineering Bhd (WCT) had completed projects in the country in the past 10 years.
“So Malaysian companies and entrepreneurs should seize the opportunities available in the country,” she stressed, as Qatar also intends to make Malaysia its base to expand its investments in Southeast Asia.
Maheran sees the prime minister’s visit here as having a positive impact on bilateral trade. Qatar is Malaysia’s fifth most important economic partner, with two-way trade totalling RM3.72 bil in 2018, up 29% from 2017. – Bernama
