At the level of economic relations between the two countries, the Netherlands participated in Web Summit Qatar 2024, which witnessed a huge turnout by experts and specialists in the field of technology from all over the world. The summit was an opportunity to expand Dutch-Qatari relations in digital economy, innovation, cooperation and protection of digital infrastructure, and cyber information security.
The Netherlands also participated in the Expo 2023 Doha (International Horticultural Exposition), where the Dutch pavilion displayed sustainable solutions and innovations for gardening and landscaping in arid climates, green energy generation mechanisms, renewable energy technology, and uses of mobility and transportation using green hydrogen.
On the other hand, the participation of the State of Qatar in Expo Floriade 2022, which was launched in September 2022 in the city of Almere in the Netherlands, represented an opportunity to promote Expo 2023 Doha, through presenting a variety of interactive events th
at inform them of the ambitious vision of the State of Qatar for a greener environment and sustainability.
In this context, Nebras Power entered the Dutch solar energy market by acquiring a 75 percent stake in a Dutch holding company that owns a portfolio of photovoltaic power stations amounting to approximately 96 megawatts. The Qatari Q Terminals Group also owns a majority stake in the Dutch Kramer Group, a logistics services provider and container port operator in the Rotterdam port area. Additionally, Qatari assets include hotels, banks and air freight companies.
On the other hand, Dutch companies participated in infrastructure projects in Qatar, in addition to the contribution of Dutch architectural engineers in the development of Hamad International Airport, Qatar National Library, and Doha Metro stations. The worlds leading Dutch interior designer, Marcel Wanders, also designed the Mondrian Hotel. Furthermore, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Q
atar Football Association (QFA).
The Qatar Chamber hosted a Dutch trade delegation on Mar. 31, 2019, which included representatives of 18 companies specialized in sports investment, to discuss cooperation opportunities between Qatari and Dutch companies; in preparation for the holding of the Qatar World Cup 2022. The Chamber’s Board Member, Eng. Ali Bin Abdullatif Al Misned, said that the two countries have many common features, whether in terms of geography or economic ambitions, noting the growth of trade exchange between Qatar and the Netherlands by 40 percent to $1.3 billion in 2019.
The two countries also bring together an old student exchange program between Qatar University and the Dutch University of Utrecht, which was launched in 2011. In addition fruitful understandings, agreements and cooperation in the fields of agriculture, communications, transportation, infrastructure, museums, energy fields, avoiding double taxation, and monitoring tax evasion.
The Netherlands is located in northwestern Eur
ope, it is a constitutional monarchy. It takes Amsterdam as its capital, with a population of about 17 million, according to 2020 data. The Netherlands follows a parliamentary system in its ruling system, as Parliament is primarily responsible for the government which includes the president, the prime minister, and the ministers, while the parliament includes the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Netherlands constitutes the sixth largest economy in the European Union (EU), and is concerned with many industries, including: petroleum refining, food processing, chemical industry, and various electrical machines. The agricultural sector represents the second largest source of agriculture around the world, as it supports the situation of the entire country, with about 2 percent of the workforce.
Two-thirds of the Netherlands’ economy depends on foreign trade, as it ranks seventh in the world in terms of exports. Regarding monetary policy, the European Central Bank (ECB) is in control, and in 2002, the
euro was adopted as the official currency in the country.
Investors in the Netherlands benefit from a skilled and highly educated workforce, along with excellent infrastructure. It also occupies a unique position in the global digital economy in terms of digital infrastructure as one of the main nodes of the Internet in the world. International sea cables land on the coast of the Netherlands, and there are large data centers in the country.
Source: Qatar News Agency
