Brazil, Qatar sign visa waiver agreement
Brazil and Qatar on Monday (Oct. 28) inked an agreement to exempt tourists and travellers in transit or on a business trip from a visa. The waiver goes both ways. This is one of the six deals forged during a visit of President Jair Bolsonaro overseas. He was received in Doha by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s emir at the Royal Palace, where cooperation pacts were signed in such fields as defence, health care, and air services.
The two countries also plan to finalize an accord on air services within their territories. Furthermore, with its experience hosting the 2014 World Cup, Brazil is to join efforts with Qatar to hold major sports events. The Middle Eastern nation will host the 2022 instalment of the competition.
Also signed were cooperation deals between the two countries’ diplomatic academies. In Brazil, the institution responsible for the training of diplomats is the Rio Branco Institute. In health care, Brazil and Qatar agreed to boost cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
In the defence arena, the two countries entered an agreement on research and development, logistic, medical, and military support, the provision of related goods and services, and initiatives to bolster the exchange of knowledge and expertise on the organization and operations of the Armed Forces, including peacekeeping. Brazil has taken part in over 50 UN peacekeeping operations.
Qatar is the penultimate country to be visited by President Bolsonaro, who has been to Japan, China, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the reforms the government has been implemented in the economic arena and business opportunities in Brazil. In addition to meetings with officials, the president attended a business seminar.
Also on Monday, the president’s entourage is expected to fly to Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia, where he is to be welcomed by Mohammed bin Salman, the nation’s crown prince. The goal of Bolsonaro and his ministers in the Middle East is to attract investment, especially for concessions and privatizations under the Partnerships and Investments Program. The countries in the region own major sovereign funds aimed at finding business opportunities in emerging countries.
