The Emir of Qatar arrived this Tuesday, February 27 in France. It is the kickoff of a two-day state visit. Tamim Ben Hamad al-Thani and Emmanuel Macron must discuss the situation in the Middle East: release of hostages in Gaza, relaunch of the process for the creation of a Palestinian state. But the Élysée is also counting on this visit to “ strengthen its bilateral relationship » with the emirate, which must invest 10 billion euros by 2030 in start-ups and French investment funds.
2 mins
Emmanuel Macron announced during this state dinner that Qatar would invest 10 billion euros by 2030 in start-ups and investment funds. Qatar until now, mainly present in France in luxury, sport, real estate and finance, should this time invest in new sectors.
Still during this state dinner, during which Kylian Mbappé, the star striker of PSG, the CEO of LVMH Bernard Arnault and former president Nicolas Sarkozy were present, the emir spoke of the energy transition, the semi- drivers, aerospace, artificial intelligence (AI), digital, health and cultural industries.
In a working document consulted by RFI, the Élysée cites the names of several French investment funds. These 10 billion euros of investment from Qatar should also benefit French start-ups. An aeronautics company in discussions with Qatar since June hopes to complete the entry into its capital of the emirate, in exchange for which it could develop its industrial activity there.
Details of the investments will be known this Wednesday. An economic forum chaired by the leading French and Qataris is held in the very chic Peninsula hotel in the presence of 200 business leaders.
Read alsoThe search for a new ceasefire in Gaza at the heart of the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Paris
Qatar, a cumbersome ally present in strategic files
France and the wealthy gas emirate maintain old ties. But this state visit by the Emir of Qatar Tamim Ben Hamad al-Thani comes at a particular moment: Qatar is acting as a mediator for a new truce in the Gaza Strip, accompanied by the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, including three Franco-Israelis. Often criticized, sometimes controversial, Qatar is also an ally that knows how to be indispensable.
A Qatargate in the European Parliament, with millions of euros in cash found during searches of elected officials; an investigation opened in France into the conditions for awarding the 2022 Football World Cup to Qatar; suspicions of corruption around a Gulf emirate which is also regularly criticized for the links it maintains with movements considered terrorist by Europe or the United States…
Gas giant, extremely wealthy client of Western companies, Qatar is an ally as sought after as it is cumbersome. As cumbersome as it is essential when the emirate deploys its diplomatic know-how, acting as an intermediary with actors considered inaccessible (Afghan Taliban, Palestinian Hamas, part of whose leadership resides in Doha, etc.). It is no coincidence that, this week, France rolls out the red carpet for the Emir of Qatar.