Qatar keen to diversify economy: Envoy

DOHA: Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Ambassador to Thailand, has said that the State of Qatar, according to the wise vision of 2030, laid down by Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is keen to diversify investments and sources of income both at home and abroad.

He noted that the Thai private sector is welcome in the State of Qatar to obtain and participate in the economic benefit provided by the State of Qatar to investors.

This came as the ambassador attended the signing of the strategic partnership agreement between Retaj Hotels and Hospitality and the Thai Group “Taj Hana”.

Dr. Mohamed bin Johar Al Mohamed, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Retaj Group and Luqman Nani, Managing Director of Taj Hana Group, signed the strategic partnership, at Al Meroz Hotel in the Thai Capital, Bangkok, in the presence of Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Former Deputy Prime minister and former president of Parliament as well as many officials from the two leading groups,  and more than 200 academics and investors in hotel tourism sector in addition to land owners and medical tourism experts.

This came as a part of Retaj overseas expansion plan and global strategy as one of the leading Hotels and Hospitality companies In the Middle East and GCC region, according to which Taj Hana will provide more than 27 hotels for Retaj Hotels & Hospitality to operate over the next five years in key locations in the Far East region, the most important of which are Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

Retaj is aiming to provide Halal and authentic Arabian hospitality to the Arabian and Gulf tourists and investors as well as from various nationalities visiting the Far East countries. The two groups also signed a partnership agreement whereby Retaj Hotels and Hospitality will offer Taj Hana SPA brand, in all Retaj new hotels, allowing Retaj Guests to enjoy the international SPA experience and renowned Thai treatments of the Taj Hana.

Qatar’s Ambassador to Thailand expressed his thanks to the management of the Qatari company Retaj for its kind invitation to the mission to attend the signing ceremony, He wished the two sides success in their cooperation to the benefit of them and bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Thailand.

Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also pointed out that the bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and Kingdom of Thailand are developing well and remarkably, especially during the past few years, calling on the Qatari private sector companies to benefit from the advantages offered by the kingdom of Thailand to investors in all fields.

Commenting on this strategic partnership, Dr. Mohamed bin Johar Al Mohamed said that the group aims through its global expansions to contribute to the leadership of the state of Qatar and to support Qatar’s goals towards strong global presence and the diversification of its foreign investment as well as its keenness being a 100% Qatari group to spread the culture of genuine Arabian hospitality around the world.

Dr. Johar added: “Retaj has established the brand ’Retaj Hotels’, the first and only Qatari Hotel brand operating inside and outside Qatar and has succeeded in spreading in many countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.”
Luqman Nani, The Director General of Taj Group, said that tourism industry is a top priority of the Thai government which it has become clear in the recent years through its great support and facilitations.

He pointed out that medical tourism is most important sector in Thailand as it has gained a global reputation to become a major pillar of the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Thailand.