During his stay in Doha, Pahor is scheduled to meet his host, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as other government representatives and business officials. He is also due to attend the opening ceremony of the World Championships, which will feature Slovenia.

Pahor's office expects the visit will reaffirm amicable relations between the countries and provide fresh impetus to efforts to expand bilateral cooperation, especially in trade and business. While economic ties have been on the rise since 2010, they remain modest.

In addition to focusing on bilateral cooperation, Pahor's visit will also be dedicated to sports, as it coincides with the World Handball Championships, one of several major sports competitions which have or will be hosted by the Gulf nation in the run up to the 2022 World Cup.

Slovenia is one of 24 teams competing at the two-week tournament as part of which the country is hoping to tap into the appearances of its national side to promote its tourism and business potential to the hosts and other participating nations.

A promotional centre will be set up between 16 and 19 January in Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha by the Slovenian Foreign Ministry, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the national investment promotion agency SPIRIT.

Pahor will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec and State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Aleš Cantarutti.