DOHA: France's Foreign Trade Minister Pierre Lellouche is visiting Qatar Saturday and Sunday to promote French industry as the Middle Eastern country prepares to host the soccer World Cup in 2022. Lellouche is being accompanied by representatives from about 30 companies including Yves-Thibault de Silguy, the vice- chairman of construction company Vinci AG and vice-president of employers' organization Medef International, France's economy ministry said in an e-mailed statement late yesterday. Qatar plans to invest $100 billion to prepare for the 2022 soccer event as well as the handball World Cup in 2015, the ministry said. Lellouche will be visiting the site of the new city of Lusail, which will be home to a new stadium, it said. "Lellouche will share with the Qatari authorities France's willingness to be at the forefront of implementing the investment plan," the ministry said. The goal is "for French companies, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, to make the most of the tremendous growth opportunities," it said. Qatar's gross domestic product is expected to grow by 20 percent in 2011, the economy ministry said.
