LONDON (AFP) – The British government said yesterday that it has agreed to a partnership with Qatar that will see the Gulf state invest GBP1 billion (USD1.3 billion) in climate technologies.
“The partnership is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs over its lifetime and will see the launch of world-leading climate technology hubs across the United Kingdom (UK) and Qatar to accelerate development in climate-friendly technologies,” according to a statement issued during a state visit by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
British industrial group Rolls-Royce, which manufactures aircraft engines, will receive investments for programmes dedicated to energy efficiency, the statement said.
Qatar’s investments in the British economy are estimated at more than GBP40 billion and the emirate indicated in 2022 that it intends to invest another GBP10 billion by 2027.
The press release also said the two countries will create a joint academy of genomic medicine, which uses information from genome sequencing, and a joint commission on research into artificial intelligence (AI).
Qatar’s emir was welcomed on Tuesday by King Charles III at the start of a state visit where he will also hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who wants to negotiate trade deals with Gulf monarchies.
Britain has been seeking new trade pacts since leaving the European Union and in late 2021 began talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (CCG), which groups Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
Britain has joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), signed trade pacts with Australia and New Zealand, and is in negotiations with India.
