The Ambassador of the State of Qatar, Rashid Abdulla O. Sh. Al-Dehaimi, presented his Letters of Credence to President George Vella at the Presidential Palace in Valletta.
President Vella welcomed the excellent bilateral relations between Malta and Qatar, which were further consolidated through his state visit and meeting with Emir H.H. Sheikh Al-Thani in June 2022. He noted with satisfaction that recent years have seen an increase in high-level contacts and investment exchanges. From a broader angle, President Vella stated that Malta continues to actively support and promote deepening ties between the EU and Qatar, as well as between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The President referred to cooperation on energy, climate, and digitalization as sectors in which greater cooperation could be achieved, in line with Qatar’s 2030 National Vision and 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ambassador Al-Dehaimi gave an overview of his plans to intensify bilateral relations between Malta and Qatar, especially through the conclusion of agreements and memoranda in different fields of cooperation. With particular regard to the sector of education, the ambassador referred to an interest in strengthening contacts between the University of Malta and the University of Qatar which will also include student exchanges. Investment and business exchanges have also been identified as priorities for his term in office, with Ambassador Al-Dehaimi planning to organise meetings between chambers on both ends in the coming months.
