The Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Katarzyna Kacperczyk said that ties with Qatar saw an expansion in 2009. In that year, the two sides signed an agreement based on which the State of Qatar supplied Qatar with 1.5 billion cubic meters of LNG for twenty years. The deal guaranteed Poland’s energy security, the Deputy minister said. She noted that the agreement will open the door for further cooperation in the energy and petrochemical sector, which would in turn increase bilateral trade in the coming years.
Kacperczyk highlighted that the use of Qatari LNG in Poland marks the first time that non-Russian gas is used in Europe. She added that Poland represents a massive opportunity for Qatar to gain market share in Europe. It would also have a positive impact on Poland due to the country’s strong LNG infrastructure.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the gas reception satiation made in Poland for Qatari gas will open a new chapter for bilateral ties. She said she expected the project to accelerate bilateral cooperation in all fields, especially given that Poland is one of the strongest economies in Eastern Europe. She revealed plans to enhance the stations capacity by an additional 7 billion cubic meters a year.
The Deputy Minister then discussed investment and said that the current Polish government was keen on attracting foreign investments to benefit the local economy. She highlighted that Poland was one of the leading European countries in the agricultural sector, with 55 billion Euros worth of production last year alone. She added that the State of Qatar itself had plenty of investment opportunities given the large number of projects underway. She highlighted that Poland has an extensive experience in the sports sector, having hosted the Euro 2012.
In addition to that, Kacperczyk said the Polish administration was also looking to enhance ties with Qatar on the diplomatic and political levels.