To increase bilateral relations between Portugal and Qatar, mainly in the economic and cultural fields, ambassador António Tânger led on Sunday the official launching of the Portuguese Business Council (PBC) in Qatar.
“Portugal is committed to work together with Qatar to increase the peaceful and fruitful relations, being conscious that Qatar is one of the most dynamic countries in the Gulf region. There is a solid spirit of mutual trust and understanding in several fields of cooperation,” Tânger said.
According to Tânger, the business council aims to promote economic, trade, and cultural relations between Portugal and the State of Qatar, as well as to carry out activities to improve mutual understanding between Portuguese and Qatari people.
The ambassador also said the PBC will represent commercial interests of Portuguese businessmen in Qatar; promote Portuguese companies, their products and services in Qatar; strengthen trade relationships between Portuguese companies, Portuguese businessmen and companies in Qatar; and contribute to the expansion of trade between the two countries.
“It is important to mention that the amount of Qatari investment in Portugal is increasing every year,” said Tânger, who delivered a speech in the presence of HE the Minister of Justice Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi, chief of protocol in Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro, PBC co-honourary president Ali M Jaidah, Ahmed Hassan Bilal, and Jassim M Jaidah, among other guests.
The PBC’s launching ceremony was held during the inaugural celebration of the ‘Day of Portugal’ in Doha, and was highlighted by a Fado (Portuguese tradition music) concert with renowned Portuguese Fado singer Maria Ana Bobone.
The ambassador said Portugal and Qatar established diplomatic relations in May 1982.
“The year 2011 was an important milestone for the bilateral relations following the appointment of the first resident Portuguese ambassador to the State of Qatar. Since then, Portuguese-Qatari relations are getting stronger mainly through the number of official visits in the political and business fields,” he stressed.
Tânger said: “Portuguese National Day – officially the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese communities, is celebrated every June 10, representing the death of Luís de Camões, who is considered as Portugal’s and the Portuguese language’s greatest poet.”
Tânger added that in September 2015, he designated October 9 as the celebration of the Day of Portugal in Qatar because June 10 coincided with the observance of the holy month of Ramadan.