Doha, September 28 (QNA) - The co-chairs of the Economy, Trade and Industry Committee of the Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council held a meeting via videoconference.

The meeting was co-chaired on the Qatari side by HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani, and on the Saudi side by HE Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal bin Fadel Al Ibrahim, with a number of officials and representatives of relevant entities from both sides in attendance.

A statement by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the meeting dealt with ways to strengthen economic, trade and industrial cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and followed up on progress in implementing joint initiatives and projects in a manner that serves the common interests of the two brotherly countries.

The two sides also reviewed indicators of economic relations between the two countries. Bilateral trade amounted to approximately USD 1.98 billion in 2025, representing growth of 36 percent compared with the previous year, while the growth rate in the first quarter of 2026 reached approximately 18 percent, exceeding the targeted rate of 15 percent. More than 977 Saudi companies operate in the Qatari market.

In the same context, the two sides discussed a number of priority areas of cooperation, including facilitating import and export procedures and strengthening bilateral trade, activating the role of the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises, and cooperating in consumer protection and business establishment, as well as enhancing integration in supply chains, financial cooperation and joint credit solutions.

The meeting also discussed preparations for launching a joint strategy between the two countries to achieve targets in the fields of economy and trade, helping to identify priorities, initiatives and measurable targets for the next phase.

The two sides also addressed the main challenges facing trade between the two countries and proposed solutions to address them and remove obstacles facing exporters on both sides. They stressed the importance of completing the implementation of approved directives and initiatives before the next meeting of the Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council, in a manner that strengthens economic and industrial integration and supports the growth of bilateral trade between the two countries. (QNA)