The Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Institute held a seminar on Spanish-Qatari ties in which the Spanish ambassador to Qatar Ignacio Escobar spoke in the presence of a group of diplomats and ministry staff.
Speaking about his country’s economy, the Spanish ambassador said its most important exports are cars, olive oil and oranges. On its advanced industries, he said Spain is ranked the world’s 2nd largest producer of high-speed trains after China, and the first country in the world in the field of renewable energy. Other fields include medicine, astronomy, sports, particularly football and tennis, he added, pointing out that Spain is tourist destination, as well.
 The Spanish ambassador said that his country has established diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar since 1972 with a non-resident ambassador until the opening of the Spanish embassy in Doha in 2003.
He pointed out that the trade volume with Qatar reached 1bn euros, adding that there is a Spanish school in Doha, and that there are Spaniards here participating in various development fields such as the preparation for the 2022 World Cup. They include architects, doctors, health workers and trainers, he added.
Escobar said that there is a need for more consultations at the political level, but the problem, he said, is that his country is run by an interim government whose decisions are not binding on the next. “This will continue until the elections and the formation of a new government.”   
Escobar pointed to Qatar’s mediation for the release of three Spanish journalists held by the armed movements in Syria.
 He added that a delegation of Spanish businessmen is expected to visit Qatar in the coming months, reiterating the business sector’s ability to strengthen relations between the countries.
On his country’s foreign policy and its priorities, ambassador Escobar said that Madrid considers its policy within the framework of common interests with the neighbours (Morocco, Portugal and France ...), the European Union, and Latin America for cultural and linguistic reasons, and North Africa for its geographical proximity, and the Middle East.