Trade volume between Qatar and Belgium reached €1.3bn in 2015, even as both the countries are working closely to forge stronger economic ties, according to Belgian ambassador Christophe Payot.
The ambassador said Belgium recorded in 2015 a 56% growth in exports to Qatar worth more than €320mn compared with the previous year. “Qatar’s exports to Belgium stood at about QR2bn, which is mainly from exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and products related to oil and gas sector,” Payot told Gulf Times.
Payot said Belgium is preparing for a visit by HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani by the end of this month. 
He noted that the Minister’s economic mission to Belgium would help enhance the level of its bilateral co-operation with Qatar, particularly in the fields of technology, research and development (R&D), and sustainable development, among others.
According to Payot, major Belgian companies have “actively participated” in mega-infrastructure projects in Qatar, and “specialise in specific sectors.”
“We are here not only to participate in projects related to the staging of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, but Belgian companies are here to contribute to the development of Qatar in line with the country’s 2030 national vision,” he stressed.
Payot said Zwijndrecht-based dredging company, DEME (Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering), was part of the $1.23bn reclamation work at the new Hamad Port led by Medco (Middle East Dredging Company). DEME also took part in projects at The Pearl-Qatar and Hamad International Airport, he said.
Dredging company Jan De Nul, Payot said, was also present in several projects in Ras Laffan and The Pearl-Qatar.
In the construction sector, Payot said Belgian company, Besix, was part of the building of the Tornado Tower, convention centres in Education City and City Center, The Torch Doha, and Khalifa Stadium, including expansion works in preparation for the World Cup.
Aside from building landmark projects, the ambassador said Belgian companies also boast expertise in water management or the “cleantech” sector and in sustainable development.
Other sectors like healthcare and energy “are also areas that have potentials for co-operation,” noted Payot, who added that Belgium was the first European country to buy LNG from Qatar in 2006.
Despite Qatar’s diversification policy, Payot stressed that “energy remains as an important sector.” He said while Belgium has diversified LNG sources, Qatar continues to be the country’s “important supplier.” 
He noted that Belgium’s LNG terminal, Zeebrugge, “could be used to import Qatari gas to Europe and beyond.”