Bahamas Information Services Updates
Darville welcomes Qatar Special Envoy to The Bahamas
By Simon Lewis, BIS
Nov 21, 2013 - 11:18:26 PM

COURTESY CALL – Mohamed Bin Abdulla Al-Rumaihi, Ambassador of Qatar and Special Envoy to The Bahamas, pays a courtesy call on the Minister for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville. Pictured from left to right: Melvin Seymour, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Grand Bahama; Ambassador Al-Rumaihi; Dr. Darville; and Hahad Ali Al-Nuaimi, Third Secretary Embassy of the State of Qatar.

FREEPORT, Bahamas – Minister for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville officially welcomed Mohamed Bin Abdulla Al-Rumaihi, Ambassador of Qatar as Special Envoy to The Bahamas, Nov. 21, 2013.

Ambassador Al-Rumaihi paid a courtesy call on Dr. Darville at his office in the Harold DeGregory Complex.In welcoming the Special Envoy, Dr. Darville pointed out that his visit comes on the heels of a signing ceremony in August, where The Bahamas formally established diplomatic relations with Qatar at its Embassy in Washington, D.C..

Dr. Darville said it was his understanding that diplomatic relations between The Bahamas and Qatar, a sovereign Arab state, had been sought since 2003 and the agreement was finalised by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell, during a visit to Qatar earlier this year.

“The ambassador’s visit today signifies Qatar’s seriousness about and commitment to working with the Government of The Bahamas, and with Grand Bahama Island, in particular.

“As the minister for Grand Bahama, I am happy that His Excellency’s fact finding mission has led him to our shores, as Grand Bahama Island has so much to offer in terms of tourism, trade, cultural exchanges and investment opportunities,” he said.

Dr. Darville told the distinguished visitor that during his stay he will be shown how Grand Bahama Island has established a first class reputation as a major maritime and transshipment centre.

“In touring our industrial zone, you will see that our maritime industry encompasses a wide range of sectors including ship registry, ship and mega yacht repair, oil transshipment and storage and international cargo transshipment,” he stated.

Dr. Darville also informed that Freeport boasts one of the deepest man made harbours in the region, a world class international airport capable of handling the largest aircraft in service, and an international business and logistics park for value added and cargo handling activities.

“Additionally, plans are now on the drawing board to further strengthen our island’s position as a leading maritime centre with the construction of a state of the art arbitration centre.

“We believe that Grand Bahama Island has a lot of potential to develop its natural resources and is poised to become a global shipping and business centre in preparation for the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in early 2015,” he said.

Dr. Darville said that as a result of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties between the two countries, a mutually beneficial relationship can be fostered that will allow the equal exchange of information, create valuable opportunities for trade expansion, transference of technical expertise and knowledge in tourism, maritime and industrial, energy and financial services sectors.

Ambassador Al-Rumaihi expressed gratitude to Dr. Darville and the government for the invitation to visit The Bahamas. He said his country has established the relationship to extend friendship to the people of The Bahamas.He said although Qatar is a major exporter of oil and gas, that is not the main objective for the government or the Qatari people.

"His Highness, the Emir of Qatar, has a vision 2033 and we are going to host, in mid-term, 2022 World Cup."He said Qatar has established the basic pillars of education and culture as its objectives and that health care and industry will establish that in future the country will never rely only on exportation of the oil and gas.

“So these are the targets and Qatar reaches out to friendly countries and friendly people to invest and to develop our brothers in the humanity to reach their target, whatever their aims to develop their people, and this is one of the visits that have the honour to represent my country here, to visit your beautiful country, and your nice people to measure what is the opportunities that Qatar can extend to the people and the country of The Bahamas.

Ambassador Al-Rumaihi will be in Grand Bahama until Saturday. He will meet with executives of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, Grand Bahama Port Authority, and will tour BORCO, Freeport Container Port, the Ginn Project and West End, and the Deep Water Cay Club in east Grand Bahama.

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