Paris, October 17 (QNA) - A Qatari business delegation visited southern France to discuss opportunities for expanding economic, trade, and investment cooperation and open new horizons for collaboration across a number of sectors of mutual interest.

The delegation included HE Chairman of Qatar Chamber Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani and HE Board Member of the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal Al-Thani, in the presence of HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani.

Organized in cooperation with the Qatar-French Economic Association (CADRAN), the delegation met with Bernard Kleynhoff, President of risingSUD, the economic development and investment promotion agency of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

Discussions focused on economic relations, the investment climate, and prospects for establishing business partnerships between Qatari companies and their French counterparts.

The Qatari delegation also met with the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

In addition, the delegation participated in a joint business forum at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes and held meetings with key economic stakeholders in Cannes, Nice, and other cities across the region. The meetings brought together French business leaders and explored potential joint ventures and partnership opportunities.

In his remarks, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Thani praised the strong economic and trade ties between Qatar and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, highlighting the shared commitment to deepening commercial engagement.

He commended the role of the Qatar-French Economic Association (CADRAN) in strengthening ties between the two business communities, providing platforms for dialogue, and supporting sustainable economic partnerships.

For his part, HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani emphasized the importance of the delegation's engagement with representatives of France's public and private sectors, noting that the visit provided a valuable opportunity to broaden economic relations.

Highlighting the longstanding ties between Qatar and the region in luxury hospitality and real estate, HE the Ambassador pointed to significant potential for expanding cooperation into aviation, tourism, technology, finance, the energy transition, advanced infrastructure, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence.

He also stressed the importance of organizing a visit to Qatar by a business delegation from southern France, noting that direct meetings and reciprocal visits play a vital role in building trust, exploring major economic projects, and establishing sustainable business partnerships between the two sides.

Some of the meetings saw preliminary understandings reached regarding the establishment of commercial alliances and partnerships, which will enhance communication between the business communities and support the shared economic interests of the State of Qatar and France. (QNA)