PM Barzani to visit Qatar on Tuesday, energy on agenda

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani will make a two-day visit to Qatar on Tuesday, where he will discuss energy, investment and trade with the country’s top officials, he said on Monday. 

“I will visit Qatar tomorrow to hold talks with the leadership and explore partnerships in regional energy, investment and trade. And I look forward to engaging local communities to promote people-to-people ties,” PM Barzani said in a tweet.

Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Barzani’s office, said in a tweet that the trip will last for two days and the premiere will “explore synergies in oil and gas” with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and other officials.

According to a statement from Barzani’s office, the aim of the trip is “to talk about bolstering bilateral relations, especially in trade exchange, investment, energy and agriculture,” adding that the visit follows an official invitation by the Emir of Qatar.

PM Barzani and Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani spoke on the phone on February 8, discussing “plans for new partnerships in trade and investment,” Barzani said in a tweet at the time.

Erbil and Doha have enjoyed good relations in the past. 

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani visited Qatar in mid-October, meeting with top officials. In his meeting with the country’s PM, President Barzani discussed Iraq's October elections, and the development of relations between Qatar, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the fields of the economy, trade, agriculture, and tourism, including starting direct flights.