India
-Krishna Kripa
India
and
Qatar
have
elevated
their
relationship
to
a
strategic
partnership,
aiming
to
double
bilateral
trade
to
USD
28
billion
over
the
next
five
years.
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
and
Amir
Sheikh
Tamim
Bin
Hamad
Al-Thani
held
extensive
discussions,
resulting
in
two
agreements.
One
agreement
establishes
a
strategic
partnership,
while
the
other
revises
the
double
taxation
avoidance
agreement.
image
Qatar
is
exploring
opportunities
to
increase
investments
in
India
across
various
sectors.
These
include
infrastructure,
technology,
manufacturing,
food
security,
logistics,
and
hospitality.
The
Qatar
Investment
Authority
(QIA)
plans
to
invest
USD
10
billion
in
India.
Additionally,
QIA
will
open
an
office
in
India
as
part
of
these
efforts.
Strengthening
Economic
Ties
Five
memoranda
of
understanding
(MoUs)
were
signed
to
enhance
economic
cooperation.
These
MoUs
focus
on
areas
such
as
archive
management
and
youth
affairs
and
sports.
The
Ministry
of
External
Affairs
highlighted
these
outcomes
following
the
Amir’s
visit
at
Prime
Minister
Modi’s
invitation.
This
marks
his
second
state
visit
to
India,
with
the
first
occurring
in
March
2015.
In
a
joint
statement,
both
nations
reaffirmed
their
strong
friendship
and
cooperation.
They
expressed
optimism
about
the
renewed
partnership’s
potential
benefits
for
both
countries
and
its
contribution
to
regional
and
global
stability.
The
leaders
condemned
terrorism
in
all
forms
and
agreed
to
collaborate
on
combating
it
through
bilateral
and
multilateral
mechanisms.
Investment
Opportunities
The
two
sides
are
considering
an
India-Qatar
Free
Trade
Agreement.
India’s
Unified
Payments
Interface
(UPI)
will
be
operational
at
Qatar
National
Bank
(QNB)
points
of
sale
in
Qatar.
Furthermore,
QNB
plans
to
expand
its
presence
in
India
by
establishing
an
office
in
Gujarat’s
GIFT
City.
The
strategic
partnership
agreement
aims
to
deepen
cooperation
in
trade,
energy,
investment,
security,
and
international
forums.
Arun
Kumar
Chatterjee
from
the
Ministry
of
External
Affairs
stated
that
this
agreement
elevates
bilateral
relations
to
a
strategic
level.
A
roadmap
for
future
cooperation
will
be
developed
as
both
sides
work
towards
implementing
this
agreement.
Energy
Collaboration
India
and
Qatar
share
a
vibrant
energy
partnership,
with
Qatar
being
a
major
LNG
source
for
India.
In
February
2024,
Qatar
Energy
and
Petronet
LNG
Limited
signed
an
agreement
for
the
supply
of
7.5
million
metric
tonnes
per
annum
of
LNG
from
Qatar
to
India
for
20
years
starting
in
2028.
Both
leaders
discussed
ways
to
further
strengthen
this
energy
partnership.
The
Amir’s
visit
included
discussions
on
trade,
investments,
technology,
energy,
and
people-to-people
ties.
This
visit
further
cemented
the
deep
relationship
between
the
two
countries.
Modi
and
the
Amir
set
a
target
to
double
bilateral
trade
from
USD
14
billion
to
USD
28
billion
over
five
years.
Cultural
Exchange
Initiatives
The
extension
of
e-visa
facilities
by
India
to
Qatari
nationals
was
welcomed
by
Qatar.
Both
sides
also
agreed
to
celebrate
an
India-Qatar
Year
of
Culture,
Friendship,
and
Sports
soon.
The
Amir
received
a
ceremonial
guard
of
honour
at
Rashtrapati
Bhavan
earlier
in
the
day.
The
Amir
arrived
on
Monday
evening
for
his
visit,
nearly
a
year
after
Modi
visited
Qatar
in
February
2024.
Modi
extended
a
warm
welcome
at
Delhi
airport
with
a
handshake
and
hug,
showcasing
their
camaraderie.
A
high-level
delegation
accompanied
the
Amir,
including
Qatar’s
Prime
Minister
Sheikh
Mohammed
Bin
Abdulrahman
Al
Thani
and
several
ministers.
CEOs
from
top
Qatari
entities
like
Qatar
Investment
Authority
and
Qatar
Tourism
were
also
part
of
the
delegation.
The
Amir
met
President
Droupadi
Murmu
later
that
evening.
She
hosted
a
banquet
reception
for
him
and
his
delegation.
During
her
speech,
she
recalled
the
historic
ties
between
India
and
Qatar
and
expressed
satisfaction
with
the
deepening
bilateral
relations.
