It!
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QATAR EM)3ASSY AMB
04/06
2009
10:12
FAA
0207
493
2661
Embassy of the State of Qatar
LONDON
The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP
First Minister for Scotland
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House, Regent Road
Edinburgh EHI 3DG
Thursday, 4th June 2009
Dear Sir,
I write to advise that H.E. KbaIid bin Mohammed
Al-Attiyah, Minister for
International
Cooperation
will be travelling to the UK as special envoy of
H.E. Sheikh Hamad
Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al- Thani, Prime Minister
and
Minister for Foreign
Affairs this month.
I would be most grateful if a
meeting could be arranged for H.E. Khalid bin Mohammed
Al-Attiyah
to
meet with you to' convey
an oral message froni the Prime Minister
and
Minister for Foreign Affairs at a time convenient to yourself on 11th June
(please note this 'is amended
from 10th June as discussed
in previous
telephone conversations
with your office). Perhaps you would be so kind as
to ask a member of your staff to communicate
a response to my, office by
either phone on 9207 493 0110, faX to 0207 493 ~661 or 'by e-:.:mailto
[email address].
uk in order that we can notify the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Doha.
Yours Truly,
1 SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON WIK INll- UK· TEL: 020.74932200.
}'AX: 020-74'3 2661
RE: VISIT TO SCOTLAND BY HE KHALID BIN MUHAMMAD AL~ATTIYAH 0 ... Page 1 of3
Miller LA (Linda) (Justice)
From:
David Smith
[[email address]]
Sent:
03 June 2009 15:32
To:
First Minister; Dunn R (Robert)
Cc:
Timoney J (James); Kleinberg D (Daniel); Smith DR (Deborah); Christian Syme; Anne MacColl
Subject:
RE: VISIT TO SCOTLAND
BY HE KHALID BIN MUHAMMAD AL-ATTIYAH
OF QATAR
I took the liberty of contacting Nerys Hughes (who is PA to the Qatar Ambassador
to the UK) who I have good
working relationship with. The request is for a short meeting (15 mins max) - His Excellency Is being sent as
an envoy from the Prime Minister and has been asked to convey an oral message to the First Minister on
behalf of the Prime Minister (Nerys has no knowledge regarding the content of the message).
I would recommend if at all possible that meeting is accomodated
on June 10th (timing could be any time
between 11am and 4pm that day). SOl previous recommendation
in relation to Qatar still stands however we
will of course be happy to review in light of the outcome of the meeting next week if it goes ahead.
thanks
David
From:
[email address]
[mailto:[email address]]
On Behalf Of
FirstMin
[email address]
Sent:
02 June 2009 16:39
To:
[email address]
Cc:
[email address];
David Smith;
[email address];
[email address];
Christian Syme; Anne MacColl
Subject: RE: VISIT TO SCOTLAND BY HE KHALID BIN MUHAMMAD AL-ATTIYAH OF QATAR
Robert
Thanks - I don't have this information but am happy to phone the Embassy to ask.
Katherine
From:
Dunn R (Robert)
Sent:
02 June 2009 16:24
To:
First Minister
Cc:
Timoney J (James); David Smith; Kleinberg D (Daniel); Smith DR (Deborah); Christian Syme; Anne MacColl
Subject:
VISIT TO SCOTLAND BY HE KHALID BIN MUHAMMAD AL··ATTIYAH OF QATAR
Importance:
High
Katherine
Further you out telephone conversation regarding the telephone call you have received from the
Qatari Embassy regarding the visit to Scotland by }TisExcellency Khalid bin Muhammad al-Attiyah,
the Minister of State for International Cooperation and Conferences. Please note that yesterday he
was appointed by the Emir to also take Over the duties of the Minister of Business and Commerce.
On the face of it I would advise that the First Minister agrees to meet with the Minister. However, as
you are aware there is an outstanding invitation for the First Minister to visit Qatar which we have
not taken up for a number of reasons. I would like to know the reason for the Minister's visit to
Scotland and why he would like to meet with the First Minister, I am assuming he wants to meet
30/10/2009
RE: VISIT TO SCOTLAND BY HE KHALID BIN MUHAMMAD AL-ATTIYAH 0... Page 2 of3
with the First Minister as a courtesy. Would it be possible for you to get this information?
I would be grateful to David for his comments on this given his pervious role regarding the proposed
visit to Qatar.
Robert
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30/1 0/2009
FOR THE FIRST MINISTER
MEETING WITH HIS EXCELLENCY
DR KHALID BIN AL-A TTIY AH, THE QAT ARI
MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION.
Date: Thursday
11 June 2009
Key
To discuss trade and other possible cooperation between Scotland
Message
and Qatar.
Who
His Excellency Dr Khalid bin Mohammed AI-Attiyah, the Qatari
Minister for International Cooperation, His Excellency Khalid Rashid
AI-Hamoudi AI-Mansouri.
What
The Minister has requested a meeting with the First Minister; he is
the Special Envoy of the Qatari Prime Minister.
Why
The Minister wishes to convey an oral message from the Prime
Minister.
We are not sure what the message will be but we assume it will
be an invitation
to the First Minister
to visit Qatar.
Where
First Minister's office, Parliament.
When
Thursday
11 June at 1.15 p.m.
Supporting
Robert Dunn, International Division: Ext: 45217
Official
Attached
Annex A: Advice on receiving an invitation to visit Qatar.
documents
Annex B: Economic brief on Qatar.
Annex C: Briefing on Sovereign Wealth Funds
Annex D: Briefing on Scottish companies in Qatar and SOl's
activity.
Annex E: Background note on Qatar
ANNEX A
Advice on an invitation being received to visit Qatar
SDl's advice, supplied in March, was not to undertake a visit to Qatar until the
economic climate starts to look healthier both globally and locally, offering a
more visible and direct benefit from the use of your time.
There is much uncertainty in the Gulf as to when the economic turbulence will
bottom out and when the recovery will begin and, until such a time, many
Sovereign
Wealth
Funds
are reviewing
investment
strategies
and largely
focusing on 'local' investments.
Lena Wilson's visit later this year to the Gulf will be an opportunity to gage the
economic climate in the region has changed and what the prospects are
regarding a visit perhaps next year.
Quote to the media on 19 March regarding the proposed visit.
"The First Minister remains focussed on ensuring Scotland makes a
strong recovery from the current recession with sustainable economic
growth as
our long-term goal. This is our prime consideration in deciding
where and when Ministers should travel. While there are no dates in the
diary at this point, a
visit to Qatar remains under active consideration."
ANNEXB
KEY ECONOMIC
FACTS
INDICATOR
QATAR
SCOTLAND
Population
833k
5.1 million
Unemployment Rate
0.6%
5.4%
Inflation Rate (CPT)
15.2%
2.9% (UK)
Budget
£26.90 billion
£33 billion
•
Qatar has experienced rapid economic growth over the last several years
on the back of high oil prices, and in 2008 posted its eighth consecutive
budget surplus.
•
Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's nonassociated natural
gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy
sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly
85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues.
•
Oil and gas have made Qatar the second highest per-capita
income
country - following Liechtenstein - and one of the world's fastest growing.
•
Proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should enable continued output at
current levels for 37 years.
•
Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas are nearly 26 trillion cubic meters,
about 14% of the world total and third largest in the world.
•
The drop in oil prices in late 2008 and the global financial crisis will
reduce Qatar's budget surplus and may slow the pace of investment and
development projects in 2009.
•
Main industries: Crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair.
•
Electricity: Production - 14.41 billion kWh (2006 est.). Consumption
13.19 billion kWh (2006 est.)
•
Oil: Production
at 1.125 million
bbl/day
(2007
est.), consumption
108,900 bbl/day (2006 est.) and exports 1.026 million bbl/day (2005).
ANNEX C
Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)
Dr Andrew Goudie provided detailed advice on Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF)
to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 5 February.
SWFs would
best
be promoted
as providing
private
sector
investment
opportunities in Scotland where large scale, long term investment is required
and where, in the current financial climate, it would be difficult to access
conventional sources of finance.
In this context, they could play an important
role in supporting economic growth.
It should be noted, however, that recent reports have indicated that falling oil
prices are leading to a slowdown in economic growth in the region and this is
having an adverse effect on SWFs.
Recent reports point also to the fact that within the context of the global
economic crisis, many Sovereign Wealth Funds are likely to avoid major
investments for at least six to nine months and potentially
longer, until the
current crisis plays out.
ANNEX D
Scottish Companies with a Presence in Qatar
Scottish companies currently operating in Qatar include:
RBS, Wood Group, Aggreko, Atlas Interactive and MacDonald Energy.
In addition, the following companies and organisations currently have active
business opportunities and links into the market:
Forth Valley
College,
Scotland
IS, Keppie
Design,
Electroflow
Control,
Commercial Microbiolgy, Buro Rappold and Key Facilities Management.
Current Opportunities
SDI is seeking to engage with Qatari Diar, one of the largest real estate and
investment companies in the region, with regard to possible inward investment
involving luxury hotels and resort developments.
SDI officials have met with the company at a senior level but have been
informed that reciprocal engagement would need to be made at a political level
before any discussions can progress.
Mackay Smith and Christian Syme of SDI are visiting Qatar on 21 and 22 June
and hope to be able to engage with the Qatar Foundation and the Qatar Science
and Technology Park as well as with investment houses.
Lena Wilson plans on visiting the Gulf Region (Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and
possibly Kuwait) later in the year. A programme has yet to be finalised but it is
likely that it will include the following:
meetings with Scottish companies that have set-up in the region;
meetings with current and potential Inward Investors;
a dinner with GlobalScots and
meetings
with
appropriate
Ambassador
and
UKTI
country
heads.
Following this visit, we will provide a progress report.
ANNEX E
BACKGROUND NOTE ON QATAR.
•
Qatar has been ruled by the a1-Thani family since the mid 1880s. The
current Amir overthrew his father in a bloodless coup on 27 June 1995.
The former Amir siphoned off petroleum revenues during the 1980s and
1990s crippling the economy.
•
It has transformed itself from a poor British protectorate, noted mainly for
its pearling, into an independent state with significant oil reserves.
•
Became independent from the UK on 3 September 1971.
•
Arabic is the main language, however, English is commonly used as a
second language.
•
Land area is 11,427 sq krn with a coastline of 563 krn.
•
National resources: Petroleum, natural gas and fish. Limited natural water
and increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities.
•
Constitution ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by
the Amir on 8 June 2004 and became effective on 9 August 2005.
•
In April 2007 nationwide elections were held for a 29-member Central
Municipal Council. It has limited consultative powers and is amid at
improving the provision of municipal services.
•
Legislative Branch is a unicamera135 seat Advisory Council or Maj1is al-
Shura, members appointed.
•
No legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were
partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms
extended every year since the new constitution came into force on 9 June
2005.
•
the constitution
provides for a new 45-member
Advisory Councilor
Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis a1-Shura;
the Amir would
appoint
the remaining
members;
preparations
are
underway to conduct elections to the Majlis a1-Shura.
Document Outline
