Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar Arrives in Doha for Official Visit to Boost Bilateral Ties

Official Welcome in Doha

Slovenian President Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, November 9, 2025, commencing an official visit designed to foster stronger bilateral ties between Slovenia and Qatar. Upon her arrival at Hamad International Airport, President Musar and her accompanying delegation were formally welcomed by several prominent Qatari officials. These included Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family; His Excellency Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi, Qatar's non-resident Ambassador to Slovenia; and Her Excellency Natalia Al Mansour, Slovenia's non-resident Ambassador to Qatar.

Focus on Economic Cooperation and Investment

The core agenda of President Musar's visit centers on enhancing economic cooperation and exploring new investment opportunities. During a Qatar-Slovenia Business Meeting organized by the Qatar Chamber, President Musar emphasized that Qatar is a 'trusted partner' of Slovenia. She expressed hope for a broader partnership, highlighting the strong relations founded on mutual respect and shared interests.

President Musar underscored Slovenia's strong, diversified economy, which is open to Qatari investments. She noted significant potential for deepening cooperation, particularly in sectors such as science, technology, pharmaceutical industries, infrastructure, and green technology. The Slovenian delegation included representatives from 25 leading Slovenian companies eager to collaborate with Qatari counterparts.

Strengthening Trade and Bilateral Agreements

Discussions during the visit also addressed the current trade exchange between the two countries, which President Musar acknowledged remains below expectations, having reached approximately QR138 million last year. Slovenia expressed keen interest in elevating this trade volume. A significant outcome of the business meeting was the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Qatar Chamber and the Slovenia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, signaling a commitment to boost private sector cooperation.

Further areas of potential collaboration include establishing a direct air connection with Qatar, operated by Qatar Airways, to boost tourism and facilitate business travel. The visit also acknowledged Qatar's existing financial support for Slovenian projects, such as the construction of the Islamic Cultural Center in Ljubljana. Additionally, a grant agreement is expected to be signed between the Qatar Fund for Development and ITF Enhancing Human Security for the project purchase of raw materials for the Palestine Hospital in Bethlehem.

Shared Visions for Sustainable Development

Both nations recognize similarities in their long-term development strategies. President Musar pointed out the alignment between Qatar Vision 2030 and Slovenia's vision for economic diversity, sustainability, and innovation, which creates numerous avenues for cooperation. Matevž Frangež, State Secretary for Internationalization, Entrepreneurship, Development Resources and Tourism at Slovenia's Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, further highlighted potential collaboration in fields like logistics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.