Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Road on Wednesday because the royal wrapped up a two-day state go to to Britain.
The pair mentioned commerce and funding on the assembly, which got here because the UK pursues a free-trade take care of oil-rich Gulf states.
Starmer’s Labour authorities, elected in July, is hoping to conclude an settlement with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s six nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
It has staked its credibility on a pledge to develop the financial system and says a GCC free commerce deal might enhance the UK financial system by some £1.6 billion ($2 billion) and open up profitable markets to British companies.
Welcoming the emir to his Downing Road residence, Starmer praised the “sturdy partnership” between the 2 international locations, saying there was “a lot extra that we will do collectively… alongside the funding that we’re in a position to announce immediately”.
That was a reference to an earlier announcement on Wednesday that can see Qatar make investments £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in Britain to pursue local weather applied sciences.
Starmer additionally thanked the emir for his “important function” within the Center East, the place Qatar has acted as a mediator because the October 2023 assaults by Hamas on Israel.
Qatar has confronted criticism over its human rights document, specifically its criminalisation of same-sex relationships.
Requested earlier than the assembly whether or not Starmer would increase human rights issues with the emir, his official spokesman stated: “The PM is evident that the place we now have issues with companions like Qatar, we’ll at all times increase them.”
The emir was handled to a royal carriage procession and a lavish state banquet hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Thani, visited the Sandhurst navy academy, which he attended after finding out at main personal colleges in Britain.
He was as a result of finish his go to with a dinner hosted by the Lord Mayor of London and the Metropolis of London Company, which runs the capital’s monetary district.
