The British government said Wednesday it had agreed to a partnership with Qatar that would see the Gulf state invest 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) in climate technologies.
“The partnership is expected to create thousands of high-skilled jobs over its lifetime and will lead to the launch of world-leading climate technology hubs across the UK and Qatar to accelerate the development of climate-friendly technologies,” said a statement released during the state conference. visit of Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
British industrial group Rolls-Royce, which produces aircraft engines, will receive investments for programs dedicated to energy efficiency, according to a statement.
Qatar’s investment in the UK economy is estimated at more than £40 billion, and the emirate indicated in 2022 that it intended to invest a further £10 billion by 2027.
The statement also said the two countries will create a joint academy for genomic medicine, which uses information from genome sequencing, and a joint commission for artificial intelligence (AI) research.
The Qatari emir was welcomed by King Charles III on Tuesday at the start of a state visit where he will also hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who wants to negotiate trade deals with the Gulf monarchies.
Britain has been seeking new trade deals since leaving the European Union, and in late 2021 it began talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which brings together Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
But a parliamentary committee said last year that the British government “should not compromise British values”, particularly on human rights and the environment.
Britain has joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), signed trade pacts with Australia and New Zealand and is in negotiations with India.
