ISTANBUL, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Türkiye-Qatar Joint Economic and Financial Committee meeting was held in Istanbul on Thursday, with the aim of strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

The one-day meeting, co-chaired by Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek and his Qatari counterpart, Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, focused on boosting mutual investments and expanding bilateral cooperation and partnerships.

In a statement posted on his social media account, Simsek said that during the meeting, the two sides agreed on "increasing investments between the two countries, strengthening sectoral cooperation, and expanding partnerships in third countries."

He emphasized that Türkiye offers significant opportunities for Qatar, citing its "strategic location, large market, qualified workforce, strong infrastructure, diverse production capabilities, growing research and development ecosystem, and attractive incentives."

Al Kuwari, for his part, stated that Qatar and Türkiye are preparing to further integrate their economies, with a focus on expanding cooperation in key sectors such as technology, defense, and tourism, according to Türkiye's semi-official Anadolu Agency.

The Qatari finance minister added that negotiations are ongoing on a free trade agreement between Türkiye and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which he said will open new markets, reduce trade barriers, and create a more favorable environment for businesses in both countries and the wider region.

The GCC, a political and economic alliance comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has been one of Türkiye's key trade partners in the Middle East. Enditem

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