KUALA LUMPUR: Qatar has welcomed Malaysia's proposal to explore a possible collaboration on the country's third national car project.

According to a statement by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Minister Datuk Darell Leiking took the opportunity in Davos to have a bilateral meeting with his Qatar counterpart.

"This is to leverage on Qatar’s investments in Volkswagen and Audi. Qatar positively welcomed the idea and reiterated on the need to deliberate the details of the joint manufacturing project," said MITI.

It added that Leiking highlighted the possibility for Qatar to collaborate with Malaysia in other parts of the automotive sector as such investments in automotive components or producing electric cars.

Meanwhile, Qatar offered an update on its current investment reforms including the relaxation of foreign investment ownership, of which 100% foreign ownership is now allowed in Qatar in various sectors.

"Qatar expressed hope that more Malaysian companies to invest in Qatar. 

"Qatar can be seen as a gateway to the Middle East market and Malaysia as a springboard to the ASEAN market," said MITI.

To this effect, the 2nd Malaysia-Qatar Joint Trade Committee Meeting is scheduled to be held on March 29 and 29.

MITI added that Leiking had also expressed the possbility of proposing Qatar to be a dialogue partner in Asean.