An air services agreement and a double taxation agreement between Malta and Qatar will be signed next week when President George Abela makes a state visit to the Gulf state.
The President will be accompanied by 25 business people and professionals who will explore trade opportunities.
The President will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg. The business delegation will include Malta Enterprise chairman Alan Camilleri, Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry internationalisation official Peter Grima, GRTU director general Vince Farrugia and president Paul Abela. Participants will represent firms involved in project management, captive insurance, training and advisory services, manufacturers, security professionals, tertiary education, healthcare, design and aviation. Professionals include lawyers, dentists and accountants.
Such business delegations accompanying presidential visits were introduced by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg. Trade delegations have so far accompanied the head of state to Portugal, Poland and the Ukraine.
Discussions over the air services agreement featured in the Gulf press in July.
Asked what the agreement provided for, the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications told The Times Business last month: "The agreement initialled between Malta and Qatar will permit a designated carrier from either party to operate air services between the two countries without any restrictions on the number of frequencies or aircraft type, as well as enter into code-share arrangements. Intermediate points and points beyond Malta and Qatar can be also operated at the discretion of the respective aeronautical authorities."
Qatar is one of the smaller states within the Gulf Cooperation Council but is one of the world's fastest growing economies. Boasting the second largest gas reserves in the world, the state is a key strategic energy supplier to major countries. In recent years, the government has worked to diversify income resources and developing its economic infrastructure in which over $130 billion will be invested over the next few years. Oil and gas exploration projects were expanded and numerous incentives to foreign organisations were offered in this sector.