Iran-Qatar Marine Tourist Line to Open During World Cup

A marine tourist line between Bushehr, a medium-sized port, and Hamad Port in Qatar is expected to be inaugurated during the World Cup, helping about 3,000 Iranian fans visiting Doha to cheer up their team.
This was announced by Deputy Industries Minister Alireza Peymanpak at a meeting with the officials of Qatari Businessmen Association, Gulf Times reported.
“Tourism opportunities can be offered in cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz, as well as the southern coasts of Iran, since potential tourism opportunities would create diversity for tourists in Qatar,” he said, highlighting that agreements have been reached in this regard.
"We can use the capabilities of Iran to attract tourists during the World Cup," he added.
Saud al-Mana, QBA board member and a partner of Iranian Trade Center, said it will provide facilities to promote tourism between the two countries.
The center would also provide investment opportunities for businessmen, especially as the investment climate in Qatar is attractive to foreign investors because of its high potentials, whether in free zones or near Hamad International Port.
Peymanpak emphasized the positive role played by QBA in developing trade exchange between the two countries by strengthening cooperation between Qatari and Iranian companies, which would contribute to boosting bilateral trade.
He said Iran's trade exchanges with the world amounted to $100 billion and there is a will to develop them with Qatar, where the volume of trade exchange is about QR777 million in 2021.
"We are planning a billion-dollar trade development between the two countries, which is achievable,” he said.
Hussein Ibrahim Alfardan, first deputy to the chairman of QBA, confirmed the interest and keenness of both sides to enhance economic and trade relations and develop trade exchange.
"There are many opportunities to enhance cooperation between the Qatari and Iranian private sectors in various fields such as tourism, industry and trade, there are also many incentives and privileges provided by both countries," he said.
About the opportunities during the World Cup, Peymanpak said Iran would chip in to strengthen the commodity supply chain of Qatar.
"We have established air freight links to Qatar and these flights will start in the coming weeks, and this route will open up for us so that we can send the goods and products that Qatar needs as soon as possible,” he said.

Kish Island Under Spotlight

Kish is the focal point of Iran’s arrangements for cooperation with Qatar in the runup to the World Cup event, although other coastal and non-coastal provinces in Hormozgan and Bushehr provinces close to the Persian Gulf can also play a role in supporting the event, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Qasemi said in a meeting with his Qatari counterpart on the resort island.
Iran's cooperation with Qatar on World Cup 2022 was initiated in February 2021 when Kish Free Zone Organization allocated 520 billion rials ($1.8 million) to equip and develop the infrastructures of Kish Island. 
Kish official are hoping to attract spectators willing to visit nearby tourist spots during the intervals of their favorite matches.
“We have increased the number of five-star hotels on Kish Island from 10 to 15, launched two football fields and two body-building complexes and have upgraded three existing football pitches,” Saeed Mohammad, secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Trade and Special Economic Zones of Iran, was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Kish Island with an area of 92 square kilometers and a population of 42,000 is located in Bandar Lengeh County of Hormozgan Province, off the southern coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf. It has been declared the fourth tourist destination in Southwest Asia by the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. 
Kish Island is among the most beautiful coral islands in the Persian Gulf.
The distance between Kish Island and Qatar is 270 km. Kish to Doha flight takes 40 minutes while the sea journey takes 5 to 6 hours. 
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup competition, contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA.
It is scheduled to take place in Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18, 2022. This will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Middle East and it will be the second World Cup held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament was held in South Korea and Japan.
In January, Iran qualified for the World Cup finals, the third in a row and its sixth overall.
Iran, which has never advanced beyond the group stage, will face the United States and England in Group B, AFP reported.
President Ebrahim Raisi visited Doha, Qatar, in March to meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and attend a summit meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

Iran, Qatar Commerce Chambers Form Joint Business Council

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint business council.
The agreement was signed by Qatar Chamber of Commerce Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani and ICCIMA President Gholamhossein Shafei. Following the signing ceremony, the new council held its first meeting at the chamber’s Doha headquarters, Gulf Times reported.
Speaking at the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa praised the formation of the joint business council, noting that it consists of a number of prominent businessmen from both sides from various economic sectors.
The new council aims to enhance cooperation between Qatari and Iranian businessmen and help them explore investment opportunities in both countries.
Sheikh Khalifa stressed the positive role of the private sector in developing the two countries’ trade volume by boosting cooperation between Qatari and Iranian companies, especially in light of the available potential on both sides and geographical advantages.
Shafei stressed the Iranian side’s interest to bolster commercial cooperation with Qatar, noting that there is a great potential for cooperation between both parties.
He also pointed to the importance of enhancing cooperation between both countries’ chambers through the joint business council to encourage the establishment of mutual investments and promote trade volume.
The Qatar-Iran Business Meeting was also held on Monday in the presence of Peymanpak and other Qatari and Iranian businessmen and representatives of companies from both countries.
Addressing the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa said bilateral trade grew by 34% from QR578 million in 2020 to QR777 million in 2021 despite the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted that there are many Iranian companies operating in Qatar with Qatari partners in numerous sectors, such as trade, services and energy.
Sheikh Khalifa said both sides are keen on developing economic and commercial relations, and promoting the two countries’ trade exchange, adding that there are plenty of opportunities to boost cooperation between the Qatari and Iranian private sectors in a range of fields, such as agriculture, industry, trade, infrastructure and food security.
“The State of Qatar is a leading global destination for business and investment. It offers world-class infrastructure, stimulating economic legislation and an attractive investment climate, in addition to the incentives offered for foreign investors, according to the Investment of Non-Qatari Capital in Economic Activity, which offers foreign investors a set of facilities and incentives,” he said.
Sheikh Khalifa called on the Iranian business sector to invest in Qatar, stressing the strong desire of Qatari companies to strengthen cooperation with their Iranian counterparts and forge commercial alliances and partnerships in all sectors.
Peymanpak said there is a strong desire from the Iranian side to develop relations with Qatar in all commercial and industrial fields, noting that there is a common will from both sides to overcome all obstacles facing businessmen from both countries.