DOHA: Minister of Commerce and Industry, H E Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, inaugurated the meeting of the Higher Committee for the Integrated Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development, held in Doha, yesterday, with the participation of the Secretary-General of the Partnership, and ministers of commerce and industry of the member states.

The meeting announced the accession of Qatar to the Integrated Industrial Partnership, as the sixth member – following the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain and Morocco. Qatar’s accession endorses national vision’s focus on enhancing cooperation and partnership with the member states, supporting sustainable development, and stimulating regional industrial integration.

The meeting considered Qatar’s accession as an added value, owing to Qatar’s competitive advantage, positive economic prospects and advanced infrastructure – eventually enhancing regional economies and stimulating industrial integration among member states.

The meeting stressed the pivotal role Qatar will play in advancing the partnership’s goals.

The meeting also welcomed the accession of the Republic of Türkiye as an additional leverage, due to the prospects of Turkish economy; considering such an expansion as a joint commitment to advancing regional industrial cooperation.

During the meeting, a number of agreements were ratified between private sector companies from the member states in a range of sectors, spanning agriculture, food, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, textiles and clothing, chemicals, plastics, manufacturing products and metals.

Qatar Steel and Bahrain Steel signed an agreement worth $1.266bn to supply five million metric tons of steel within five years – a deal that takes industrial cooperation between Qatar and Bahrain to higher levels. This partnership ensures a stable supply of essential raw material for Qatar Steel operations, which improves operational efficiency and contributes to economic development regionwide.

Separately, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani held a series of bilateral meetings with H E Lieutenant General Kamel Al Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport of the Arab Republic of Egypt; H E Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates; H E Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain; H E Eng. Yaarub Falah Al-Qudah, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; H E Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade of Morocco; and H E Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of Türkiye.