Gaz de France signs partnership deal with Qatar

PARIS, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Gaz de France GAZ.PA on Monday said it has signed a long-term partnership agreement with Qatar Petroleum International and the country's authorities.

"This memorandum of understanding plans the development of cooperation between the two groups at an international level, in particular in the areas of exploration-production, liquefied natural gas (LNG), gas storage and downstream activities," Gaz de France said in a statement.

State-owned Gaz de France said the agreement would help it enhance its presence in Qatar, the world's top exporter of LNG.

Gaz de France also said it had been pre-selected by Qatar Petroleum to take part in an upcoming tender for the allocation of new offshore licences in Qatar.

The agreement coincides with a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which has yielded numerous deals and agreements for French companies such as EDF (EDF.PA) and Areva (CEPFi.PA). (Reporting by Marie Maitre; Editing by Quentin Bryar)