The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) said in a Thursday statement that its newly-appointed governor Mohammad Reza Farzin had travelled to Qatar in charge of a high-ranking delegation of baking and diplomatic officials to meet senior authorities in the Arab country.

The CBI said Farzin had met with Governor of Qatar Central Bank Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al-Thani earlier in the day to discuss plans by Iran and Qatar to sign a key monetary agreement.

Farzin told Sheikh Bandar during their meeting that Iran and Qatar are on track to meet targets set in bilateral relations, adding, however, that signing of a bilateral monetary agreement and engaging in other multi-lateral pacts would help the two countries further boost their ties.

Sheikh Bandar also said in the meeting that Qatar views better banking relations with Iran as a top priority in its policies and decision-making, adding that cooperation between top banks of the two countries would definitely benefit both nations.

Iran and Qatar have sought to expand their political and economic relations since 2017 when Qatar came under an economic blockade by a regional block of countries led by Saudi Arabia.

Relations between the two countries deepened further in the run up and during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as Iran provided support and assistance to Doha’s efforts to organize the prestigious international tournament.

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According to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the document was signed by Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and his Iranian Counterpart Gholam-Hossein Shafeie in Doha.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Thani hailed the formation of the council that makes up of elites of different economic sectors of the two countries.

He said that the council will help discover investment opportunities in both countries and develop mutual cooperation.

The Qatari official also stressed the importance of the positive role that the private sector can play in developing trade between the two sides.

Shafeie, on his part, announced Iran’s willingness to boost trade ties with Qatar and said that there are numerous grounds for cooperation in this regard.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Thani was also present at a meeting attended by businessmen, as well as representatives of a number of Iranian and Qatari companies. Alireza Peyman-Pak, Deputy Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, who also heads the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, was also attending the meeting.

Sheikh Al-Thani said that trade ties between the two countries have been growing, as they increased by 34% in 2021 compared to a year earlier.

He said that many Iranian companies are currently cooperating with Qatari firms in different fields such as maintenance, services as well as gas and energy.

He added that the two countries can further expand their cooperation through the participation of their private sectors in fields such as agriculture, industry and food security, among others.

The Qatari official also spoke about his country’s laws and measures to facilitate foreign investment there, and invited Iranian companies to get familiar with the investment opportunities in Qatar.

Alireza Peyman-Pak also announced Iran’s willingness to develop ties with Qatar in trade and industrial fields.

He added that Iran also welcomes joint ventures with Qatar and intends to remove obstacles that businessmen of the two countries are facing.

Meanwhile Energy Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian and Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Al-Thani in a meeting on Monday signed the memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU of the 8th Meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Qatar was signed between Mehrabian and al-Thani in Doha, Qatar.

Stressing Iran’s approach to the development of international relations, Mehrabian said that the current meetings manifest a new chapter in the development of cooperation between Iran and Qatar.

Referring to the deep-rooted relations between Iran and Qatar, he added that holding such meetings is not only constructive, but also it is strengthening bilateral ties between the two states.

This Memorandum of Understanding focuses on the areas of transit, transportation, industry and trade, energy, customs, free zones, tourism, cultural heritage, agriculture, and sports.

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The Qatari Minister of Transport and Communications was heading a delegation to Kish Island in southern Iran.

Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Qhasemi in a joint meeting with Qatari Minister of Transportation and Communications Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti on Kish Island on Sunday evening, noting that during the same visit, a flight agreement was reached between Iran and Qatar.

“Air travel is coming to an end, in a special session we will also develop sea travel,” he said.

Qhasemi also referred to the issue of holding the World Cup in Qatar and added: “We are ready to cooperate in the World Cup in terms of supporting and providing food and hosting tourists who want to see Iran, so that many World Cup travelers can choose Kish and travel to Qatar to watch the matches.”

Regarding the permission to fly from Iran’s skies, the Iranian Minister said that Iran’s skies are ready to welcome foreign flights, and even many Iranian provinces are requesting direct flights to Qatar, and the volume of flights should increase.

Qatari Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti also said during the meeting that the fields of cooperation between Iran and Qatar are very wide and joint committees will be formed to expand cooperation.

Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti added that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is not just a matter for Qatar, but for the whole region, in which Iran’s role is undoubtedly important.

The Qatari Minister of Transport stated that the volume of interaction between Iranian ports should be increased,adding that the very short distance between Iran and Qatar requires the development of technical and maritime cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile on Monday,  Iran and Qatar signed six documents and agreements on air transportation and World Cup 2022.

The signing ceremony was held in Kish Island, southern Iran, attended by Qasemi and Qatar’s Saif Al Sulaiti.

The documents included the agreement sign by Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi on his trip to Qatar, three cooperation documents on air transportation, a cooperation document on maritime transportation and the document detailing cooperation grounds regarding Qatar World Cup 2022.

The Qatari minister arrived in Kish Island yesterday to meet his Iranian counterpart. Qatar’s Ambassador to Iran also attended the meetings.

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