State of Qatar

Bilateral relationship

In the year ended December 2008 the Qatar ranked as New Zealand’13th most significant bilateral trade partner, and is currently our second largest trading partner in the Middle East (after Saudi Arabia), although trade is primarily from imports of crude oil.  With its small population base and high per capita income, Qatar will continue to represent a modest but useful market for New Zealand exports, principally lamb, beef and dairy products. In the year ending December 2008 New Zealand exported NZ$30.5 million worth of products to Qatar, which consisted mainly of meat and dairy products. Imports from Qatar for the same period amounted to NZ$1.5 billion, made up of mostly crude oil, with some nitrogen fertilisers. In the last few years, Qatar has become a significant energy supplier to New Zealand. There are prospects to further develop the bilateral relationship in new areas, such as education, health and tourism sectors.

New Zealand is currently negotiating a Free Trade Arrangement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC ) states. Five rounds of negotiations have been completed with a sixth round to be held in New Zealand in October 2009.

Since 1 July 1999, GCC nationals, including from Qatar, have not required visas to visit New Zealand for visits of up to 90 days.

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait.

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Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area - 11,521 sq km - Population - 1,553,729 (2008) - Capital City - Doha - Religion - Islam (95%) - Language - Arabic (but English widely used) - Currency - Qatari Riyal (QR) = 100 Dirhams - Exchange Rate - US $1 = QR 3.64 (fixed to the US$)

Political

Political system - Hereditary emirate - National government - Cabinet, headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the Emir. - National legislature - No elected legislature. The Emir appoints a Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) of 35 members, which is empowered to debate legislation and make recommendations to the Cabinet. - Head of State - Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who acceded to the throne on 27 June 1995. - Head of Government - Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al-Thani (since 3 April 2007)

Economic

GDP - US$107.8 billion (2008 EIU estimate) - Real GDP growth - 13.4% (2008 EIU estimate) - Exports - US$55.1 billion (2008 EIU estimate) - Imports - US$21.2 billion (2008 EIU estimate) - Current account - US$21.0 billion (2008 EIU estimate) - Inflation - 13.2% (2008 actual) - Gross external debt - US$55.8 billion (2008 EIU estimate)

New Zealand Trade

NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ $30.52 million (to December 2008) - Main Exports - Meat (NZ$10.6 million); Cheese (NZ$5.6 million); Milk and cream (NZ$3.2 million); Butter (NZ$2.1 million) - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ $1.52 billion (for year to December 2008) - Main Imports - Crude oil (NZ$1.41 billion); Fertilizers (NZ$106 million)

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Visits

• Three New Zealand Government Ministers have visited Qatar in the past two decades: the Associate Minister of Energy, Hon Harry Duynhoven, who attended the 10th International Energy Forum ministerial conference in Doha in April 2006, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Warren Cooper in 1984 and the then Minister of Health, Hon Aussie Malcolm in 1983.
• In July 2006 the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces, Major General Hamad Bin Ali al-Attiya, visited New Zealand.

Representation

• Qatar established diplomatic relations with New Zealand in November 1984. The Qatari Ambassador, Mr Yousif Khalifa Abdulla Al-Sada, is accredited to New Zealand from Jakarta, following the transfer of accreditation from the Qatari embassy in Tokyo on 31 January 2007.
• The New Zealand Ambassador in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is accredited to Qatar.

Travel advice

The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Qatar [external link]. Enquiries may be directed to Consular Division at the following numbers: telephone: +6444398000; fax: +644439 8532

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