Qatar to invest 10 bln euros in French economy: Elysee

France and Qatar have sealed a strategic partnership under which Qatar has agreed to channel 10 billion euros ($10.85 billion) into start-ups and investment funds in France between 2024 and 2030, the French presidency said in a statement.

The investments “to the mutual benefit of both countries” will target key sectors ranging from energy transition, semiconductor, aerospace, artificial intelligence, digital, health, hospitality and culture, it added.

The investment was announced as Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar’s ruling emir, started a two-day visit to France on Tuesday, his first state visit to the country since his accession to the throne in 2013.

Attempts to organize an Israel-Hamas ceasefire to allow the release of hostages held in Gaza dominated the first day of a state visit to France by Qatar’s emir.

Qatar has played a key mediation role since the Gaza war erupted in October and international diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent days to halt hostilities for Ramadan.

The emir and Macron reaffirmed during their talks the need to “very quickly” achieve a ceasefire, the French presidential office said.

The two leaders also discussed prospects for creating a Palestinian state and other bilateral cooperation including humanitarian aid for Gaza, the Elysee said.

US President Joe Biden said Monday that Israel was ready to halt its military offensive against Gaza during Ramadan.

But Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in parallel ordered his troops to prepare an offensive against the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

($1 = 0.9220 euros)