NRW strives for strong economic relationships with Qatar and the VAE!

NRW strives for strong economic relationships with Qatar and the VAE!

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) relies on closer economic cooperation with the Arab region. Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) goes on Tuesday on a four -day trip to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (VAE). The delegation consists of over a dozen board heads and board members of well -known companies, including RWE, Uniper, Thyssenkrupp, DHL and Covestro. The Duisburg port and the Düsseldorf fair are also part of the tour group. The aim is to conduct discussions about business, investments and political cooperation, especially in the areas of energy and artificial intelligence (AI).

"The importance of the Arab countries for Germany and NRW is growing, especially in the context of the Ukraine war and geopolitical changes," said Wüst. The visit is historical because it is the first official trip of a North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister to Qatar. The last visit of a NRW head of government in the VAE took place in 2009.

economic connections and investments

Arab states are already considered important investors in North Rhine -Westphalia. For example, the Qatar State Fund holds 9.1 percent of RWE. Adnoc from Abu Dhabi also plans to take over Covestro. Hydrogen will play a central role in the conversion of the industry, and Qatar plans to become active in this area. Thyssenkrupp works on an ammonia production system in Qatar, which is to be completed for 2024. Duisburg should establish itself as a central hub for green ammonia in Europe. The Duisburg port is already in exchange with VAE companies about hydrogen and ammonia projects.

In addition, the Messe Düsseldorf has plans to strategically position itself in the golf region and to prevent measurements in Dubai and Riad. The economic conditions for this seem to be favorable because GDP growth forecast for the Gulf States will be promising in the coming years. The GDP of the VAE from $ 370 billion in 2015 is expected to increase to $ 713 billion in 2029, while Qatar expects an increase of $ $ 282 billion in the same period. For NRW, 2024 were worth 1.1 billion euros to the VAE, whereby the exports according to Qatar were only 11.9 million euros.

long -term perspectives and collaborations

Germany strives to diversify its sources of delivery for oil and gas, which also includes the partnership with the Gulf States. Long -term plans include the connection of green hydrogen from the region. As part of these efforts, talks between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and representatives from Saudi Arabia, the VAE and Qatar, took place in September 2022, which focused on energy security. A memorandum has been signed for the energy industry between Germany and Qatar, and the first LNG deliveries from Qatar to Germany are in prospect for 2024, with further deliveries from 2026.

The economic exchange is promoted by concrete contracts, such as a contract for the delivery of 137,000 cubic meters LNG, which was concluded by RWE in the VAE. Kerstin Andreae, general manager of the Federal Association of Energy and Water Management, emphasizes the need for international partnerships for hydrogen imports. It is particularly noteworthy that Qatar not only wants to act as a supplier at short notice, which presents the negotiations with challenges. Nevertheless, the golf state remains a vital partner in the changing energy regulations in Germany.