Qatari Emir to start Asian tour to increase Qatari exports

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani will start an Asian tour on April 6, beginning by visiting Pakistan, India, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea. The tour also includes the republic of Kazakhstan.

Official sources in Doha said economic subjects will form the main focus of this tour, adding that marketing Qatari gas to Asia will top these talks, as well as signing agreements for economic, commercial and investment cooperation, including agreements for preventing tax duplicity, protecting and encouraging mutual investments.

The sources said that these countries combine to import more than 80% of Qatar's energy production.

Both Japan and South Korea are importing annually nearly 6 million tons of Qatari liquid natural gas according to 25-year agreements with both of them. New agreements may increase these quantities to reach 10 million tons annually -- 6 million tons for Japan and 4 million tons for South Korea.