Qatar plastics sector builds trade ties with Mexico

Mexico City — Qatar wants to strengthen its trade links with Mexico as it strives to overcome the crippling effects of an economic blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others almost two years ago.

The tiny Persian Gulf state of 2.7 million had 13 companies exhibiting at the Qatari pavilion at Plastimagen 2019 in Mexico City.

They are the first Qatari businesses ever to participate in a trade show in Mexico, Mohammed Alkuwari, Qatar's ambassador to Mexico, told Plastics News April 2.

"We're aiming to export to North, Central and South America, which are growing markets," Alkuwari said, although he was unable to specify the value of trade between Mexico and the Middle Eastern state.

"We see lots of potential in Mexico," said Saoud Algosaibi, a marketing and communications specialist for the Doha-based, government-owned Qatar Development Bank, which is sponsoring the pavilion.

"Mexico's geographical location makes it a very important market. The blockade is still on, which is why we're trying to promote these companies' exports as much as we can. They offer great quality at competitive prices. But we're also looking at North and South America and other parts of Asia, such as Singapore," Algosaibi said.

Qatar is rich in crude oil, but several months ago it won a Mexican government contract to drill for crude in several locations off of Mexico's Gulf coast. It is also one of the world's largest producers of liquefied natural gas.

The 13 companies at Plastimagen included Sarplast Qatar W.L.L., which makes PVC pipe, fittings and tanks, and Qatar Polymer Industrial Co., which has capacity to make 120 million polypropylene woven sacks and bags a year.