‘Italy proud to be Qatar's largest trading partner in Europe, third globally'
Doha, Qatar: Qatar and Italy enjoy close relations and collaborations in trade, culture, tourism and other areas, said a top Italian official visiting Qatar.
Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H E Maria Tripodi said Italy is Qatar's largest trading partner in Europe and third largest globally. 'In my meeting this morning with the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs H E Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, we emphasised the special relationship that binds Qatar with Italy, the first European and third global trade partner to Doha. This is an achievement of which our country is proud, for the contribution we have made within the ambitious 'Vision 2030' of Qatar,' the Undersecretary of State said. She was speaking at an event to mark Italian Design Day yesterday.
Tripodi said the occasion served as a celebration of Italian design, as well as of the success of commercial relations between Italy and Qatar. Through the annual Italian Design Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy celebrates the creativity, functionality, and good taste of Italian products worldwide, She added.
'Even more satisfying is the ability we have shown as a nation to work together here in Qatar, with the contribution of everyone: businesses, individuals, and institutions. I want all of you to know that we are at your service to make Italy grow together, both at the Farnesina in Rome and here in Doha, at our Embassy and the Italian Trade Office,' Tripodi added.
Some design projects by the students of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) were displayed on the occasion. The undersecretary of state said art and design was an important connection between the two countries. 'Our cultures are becoming increasingly interconnected, and our young people can more and more appreciate the opportunities of connections between Italy and Qatar as a chance for growth, understanding, and for building lasting relationships for the future.'
Addressing the event, Ambassador of Italy to Qatar H E Paolo Toschi highlighted Qatar-Italy ties especially in areas of art, design and culture. 'Design is an important part of our relations. It connects minds, it connects technology, business, people. And it connects Italy and Qatar.'
The Ambassador also emphasised Qatar-Italy collaboration for peace and stability in the region and beyond. 'This is a year of special energy. We have ahead of us time of uncertainty and unsolved issues regionally and globally.
'Definitely there are a lot of questions. We in Italy and Qatar are convinced that to address these questions, these issues, we need dialogue, we need a conversation, and we need to work together in spirit of cooperation and friendship, and our friendship with Qatar is an example of how we can do this. Together we are strong,' Ambassador Toschi concluded.
Addressing the gathering, VCUarts Qatar's Dean Amir Berbić said it was a pivotal time in Qatar-Italy cultural partnership with recent announcement of Qatar to have a permanent pavilion at Venice Biennale. 'We value very much the connection that is developed between VCUarts Qatar campus and the Italian creative community both here in Qatar and abroad. We are so fortunate to have some of Italy's most talented and creative people teaching our students at VCUarts Qatar. They are truly making an amazing impact on the school by being at the top of their fields as designers, artists, and scholars and immersing our students in incredible educational experiences.'
© Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Web Release
38 minutes ago
- Web Release
EBRD supports Egypt with first private-to-private electricity contracts
Energy market reform is taking a major step forward in Egypt as the government approves the first bilateral power purchase agreements between private generators and consumers. As part of a pilot of the private-to-private (P2P) rules, developed with technical support from the EBRD to the Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (Egypt ERA) and approved last year, four renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 400 MW have been approved to contract directly with end-consumers of electricity. The four approved projects are: KarmSolar, which will develop a 100 MW solar plant to supply electricity to Suez Steel. AMEA Power, which is building a solar facility of the same size to serve BEFAR Group and the Suez Canal Container Terminal. TAQA PV, which will install 100 MW of hybrid capacity (solar and wind) to power operations at Ezz Steel. Enara, developing a hybrid plant to deliver 100 MW to the El Alamein Silicone Products Company and Helwan Fertilizers. The P2P rules set out the conditions under which generators can use the power grid to sell electricity directly to consumers, a major departure from the existing single-buyer model and a significant step forward in Egypt's efforts to liberalise its electricity market – a goal set out in the 2015 Electricity Law. This approach introduces competition into the electricity sector, expands consumer choice and promotes private investments in renewable energy. It also introduces a path for Egyptian businesses, especially those that are energy-intensive and focused on the export market, to sign agreements directly with renewable energy producers that are increasingly required to prove their low carbon product credentials, for example green hydrogen destined for the European market. Furthermore, given the electricity generation under these contracts will be entirely privately financed, the P2P scheme represents an important route for Egypt to scale up electricity production without the need for government contracts. Mark Davis, the EBRD's managing director for the southern and eastern Mediterranean region, said: 'This milestone shows how the right regulatory framework can unlock private investment and drive the energy transition. By enabling companies to procure green electricity directly from producers, Egypt is opening new opportunities for industry and enhancing its competitiveness. We are proud to have supported EgyptERA in designing this pioneering scheme and will continue working closely as projects move towards implementation.' Dr Mohamed Mousa Omran, the chairman of EgyptERA, said: 'This pilot marks an important step towards a more competitive electricity market in Egypt. By enabling direct agreements between producers and consumers, we are creating space for the private sector to play a greater role in meeting the growing demand for clean energy in Egypt. This is essential for accelerating the deployment of renewables at scale and achieving our long-term energy goals.' The EBRD's technical support is generously funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), a key partner for the Bank in many of its ongoing policy engagements that aim to decarbonise the energy sectors of its countries of operation. This work is being delivered under the EBRD's Renewable Energy Programme, which is currently supporting 16 countries in their development of market-based mechanisms to mobilise private investments. To date, activities under this programme have delivered over 8,500 MW of renewable energy capacity being awarded in 8 countries.
Arabian Post
an hour ago
- Arabian Post
Illicit Carding Hub BidenCash Dismantled in Major Takedown
U.S. law enforcement has seized approximately 145 darknet and clearnet domains, along with cryptocurrency holdings linked to BidenCash, a notorious carding marketplace that facilitated the distribution of stolen credit card data and personal information. Since its inception in March 2022, the platform served over 117,000 users and trafficked more than 15 million payment card records, reportedly generating at least $17 million in illicit revenue. BidenCash gained traction by periodically publishing stolen data sets—for example, offering 3.3 million credit card records free of charge between October 2022 and February 2023—as a marketing tactic to lure new buyers. These leaks included full card numbers, expiry dates, CVV codes, account holder names, addresses, email IDs and phone numbers. Beyond carding, the platform also traded compromised credentials which could be used for unauthorised computer access. By court order, U.S. authorities have seized cryptocurrency wallets used by BidenCash to collect illicit proceeds. On‑chain intelligence from Arkham Intelligence indicates that around $43,000 in USDT was transferred to wallets designated as 'Seized Funds', although the total seizure remains undisclosed. ADVERTISEMENT Visitors to the seized domains are now automatically redirected to servers controlled by U.S. law enforcement and are greeted with official seizure banners bearing logos of the Department of Justice, FBI, U.S. Secret Service and involved international partners. The dismantling of BidenCash resulted from a joint operation involving the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Secret Service, the FBI and international partners including the Dutch National High Tech Crime Unit, the Shadowserver Foundation and Searchlight Cyber. While no arrests have been confirmed publicly, the takedown highlights expanded cooperation between U.S. and European agencies. Cybersecurity analysts warn that some traces of BidenCash remain active. As of early June, researchers such as Vmprotect identified at least seven live domains tied to the marketplace, illustrating the inherent challenges in fully eradicating darknet infrastructure. Experts highlight that even expired credit cards and outdated personal data can fuel phishing schemes, identity theft and account takeovers, underscoring the enduring risks for victims. The crackdown on BidenCash forms part of a broader escalation by global law enforcement in their fight against cybercrime malign platforms. Recent operations have targeted malware-as-a-service networks, counter‑antivirus services and other darknet commerce sites. Yet analysts caution that such efforts often spark rapid migration of criminal activity to new domains and platforms. Investigators are now focusing on tracing the individuals behind the BidenCash operation and pursuing further legal actions to freeze remaining assets. Analysts emphasise that the success of this takedown will depend on follow‑through investigations and the dismantling of successor networks.
What's On
2 hours ago
- What's On
Dubai Airports reduces parking rates for the summer
A good enough reason to book a summer trip… If you own a car in Dubai and don't have a parking spot, one of the questions that may arise is where you can park your car safely while you're away. Well, we have some news. Starting from June 10 to 30, 2025, you can nab yourself a discount on parking spots at Terminal 1 Car Park B, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB). That's right! Whether you're heading out for a summer escape or just dropping someone off, you can park your car right at the terminal without spending a fortune at DXB. And you don't have to spend a fortune on it. Do note that this is a limited-time offer and only valid until June 30, 2025. So, how much are the Dubai Airports parking rates? From June 10 to June 30, parking rates at Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are as follows: 3 days: Dhs100 7 days: Dhs200 14 days: Dhs300 Compare that to the regular daily rates – which rack up to Dhs125 per day, you're basically being handed a travel bonus. So tempting that it may even get to you to extend that one-week holiday to two. *flydubai launches direct flights to 4 new European cities* How do you avail? Head to select your terminal, the date and time of your departure, and the date and time of your arrival to see your quote. Just remember to head to the airport on time and allocate enough time to get from the parking to your check-in gate. Looking for travel inspiration? Head to for some grand ideas. From boutique hotels around the world to some of the stunning locations in the GCC to add to your bucket list, you're sure to be inspired. Images: Unsplash > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
