Qatar Promises $15bn Investment in Turkey

Qatar on Wednesday promised to make a $15 billion direct investment in Turkey, badly hit by a currency crisis amid a widening diplomatic standoff with the United States, officials said.

“Qatar has pledged $15 billion of direct investments in Turkey,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter.

“Turkish-Qatari relations are based on solid foundations of true friendship and solidarity,” he said.

The announcement came after Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held lunchtime talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A presidential source also confirmed Doha’s pledge to “rapidly implement the $15 billion investment package.”

Qatar offers Turkey an investment package worth $15 billion to support the Turkish economy, during the visit of HH The Emir. It includes both new investments & deposits.

The stability and prosperity of our ally #Turkey is vital for the whole region. 🇶🇦🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/jjICYk2pqT

— لولوة راشد الخاطر (@Lolwah_Alkhater) August 15, 2018

Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, who is Erdogan’s son-in-law, and his Qatari counterpart Ali Sharif Al-Emadi were present at the talks in the capital Ankara.

Turkey and Qatar, a very close U.S. ally, have become close economic and political partners in recent times.

Turkey has been rocked in recent days by a sharp decline in the value of its lira after U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted last Friday that Washington was doubling aluminum and steel tariffs for Ankara.

Washington’s move came during an ongoing dispute over Turkey’s holding of an American pastor for two years.

In response, Erdogan has called for a boycott of U.S. electrical goods while Ankara has sharply hiked tariffs on some U.S. goods.

Bugün Ekselansları Başkan Erdoğan ile Ankara’da yapmış olduğum önemli görüşmeler çerçevesinde, üretken, güçlü ve sağlam ekonomiye sahip bu ülkede 15 milyar dolar tutarında bir mevduat ve yatırım projeleri paketini duyurduk.

— تميم بن حمد (@TamimBinHamad) August 15, 2018