LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Qatar’s £1 billion investment in British climate technologies as he met the emir on the final day of a state visit to London.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held talks with Starmer at his Downing Street residence on Wednesday afternoon.
During the meeting, the two leaders agreed that Qatar and the UK’s “thriving investment relationship would continue to grow and deliver significant benefits for both countries,” Starmer’s office said.
They also discussed strengthening defense ties and Qatar’s mediation role in the Middle East, including in Gaza.
Earlier, the UK announced the agreement with Qatar to invest £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in British climate technologies.
Engineering company Rolls-Royce will receive investment in technology programs that “improve energy efficiency, support new sustainable fuels and lower carbon emissions,” the UK government said.
Qatar is one of the largest purchasers of Rolls-Royce engines, which are used in some Qatar Airways jets.
“Enabling the energy transition through lower carbon technologies is a key part of our strategy,” Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic said. “We are delighted to welcome Qatar as a strategic partner, who will support the growth of these technologies. They share our ambition to make an impact on the challenge of climate change.”
The UK partnership with Qatar is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs and will launch climate technology hubs across the UK and Qatar, the UK government said.
It will include investment in start-ups in the UK and Qatar focusing on energy efficiency, carbon management and green power.
Starmer said that the deal was a “significant step in our ambition to become a clean energy superpower and further evidence that the UK is one of the best places in the world for companies to develop those technologies.”
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Al-Thani said: “The United Kingdom has a proud history of innovation in cutting-edge technology, and Qatar has long been a trusted investment partner to British businesses.
“This new collaboration aligns with our long-term strategy to invest in the economies of the future.”
On Tuesday, Sheikh Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al-Thani were greeted by Prince William and the Princess of Wales, before taking a royal carriage procession to meet King Charles.
On Wednesday the emir visited Sandhurst military academy, which he attended in the 1990s.
