LuLu team to visit Guyana as President Ali explores Qatar Airways connectivity
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has continued a series of high-level engagements in Qatar, securing interest from international retail giant LuLu Group in Guyana and opening discussions with Qatar Airways on establishing passenger and cargo connectivity.
The engagements form part of the president’s three-day State Visit to Qatar, during which Guyana and the Gulf state have been seeking to deepen bilateral cooperation and expand economic and investment ties.
President Ali met Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Group International, M. A. Yusuff Ali, who expressed the company’s commitment to investing in Guyana.
According to the president, “Mr Ali expressed his commitment to investing in Guyana and indicated that a technical team will visit our country within the next 30 days to explore potential opportunities.”
LuLu Retail is one of the largest retail operators in the Gulf region, with an extensive international sourcing network.
The Guyanese leader also met Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Ali Al-Khater, with discussions focused on the possibility of including Guyana within the airline’s network for both passenger and cargo services. Such connectivity could strengthen Guyana’s links with the Middle East and other international markets served through Qatar Airways’ global network
President Ali also met Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
In its official account of the meeting, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields.”
The statement added that the two sides also exchanged views on “several regional and international issues of mutual interest.”
As part of the visit, President Ali toured Education City in Al Rayyan, including the 40,000-seat Education City Stadium, one of the venues constructed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Head of State and First Lady Arya Ali also toured the Qatar Foundation campus and met Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation.
The engagements provided an opportunity to examine Qatar’s investments in education, research, innovation and human development and areas from which Guyana could potentially draw greater cooperation.
The latest meetings follow earlier engagements during President Ali’s State Visit, including official talks with the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding investment cooperation.
