Imports of Italian goods will continue to increase as bilateral trade and investment strengthens.

The import of food and agricultural products from Italy to Qatar reached a value of more than €23m between January and June 2020, a 9.2% rise compared to the same time the previous year.

The Italian Trade Agency, in coordination of the Italian Embassy, has been promoting and facilitating the import of foods and agricultural products to Doha.

The overall trade exchange between the two countries reached €1bn during the same time period. Luxury goods and cars are amongst some of the traded goods that Rome has been exporting to Doha. In 2019 the volume of trade between the two countries was €2.7bn.  

Plans for future improvement in trade relations are also underway. Lulu Hypermarkets is preparing to open a facility in Milan which will help export authentic food products at competitive prices from Italy to Qatar furthering bilateral business relations even more.

The facility will include foreign testing, halal certification, traceability, label translation and other necessary things to make exports ready and suitable for the Qatari market. 

“We are now almost close to completing our next project in Italy. We have completed the formation of our Italian branch of the company. Practically all works are completed. The project is expected to open soon in Milan. The project will help increase hugely in bilateral trade,” said Dr. Mohamed Althaf, director of Lulu Group International.

Italian food products which are exported to Qatar are considered to be of high quality, with all goods meeting safety and environmental standards certified by Coldiretti Italy, one of the country’s leading farmers’ association.

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