New Delhi, Feb 18 (UNI) India and Qatar decided to elevate their ties to a Strategic Partnership with focus on trade, energy and investments, and double their trade in the next five years, during the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani here today.
During their talks, held at Hyderabad House, PM Modi and the Amir recalled the historic trade linkages between the two nations, the deep-rooted people to people ties and the robust bilateral ties.
They expressed their desire for further deepening of the multi-faceted relations, Secretary CPV & OIA Arun Kumar Chatterjee told the media at a briefing.
The two sides inked two agreements and five MoUs.
The two sides inked an agreement to elevate their ties to strategic partnership, with trade, innovation and energy as the main focus, the official said.
While bilateral trade is at $14 billion, they have targeted to double it by 2030.
The Qatar sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority, has invested $1.5 billion in FDI in India, in sectors like retail, power, IT, affordable housing. Newer areas have been identified for the wealth fund to invest in, including ports, infrastructure, energy, food parks, startups, AI and robotics, Chatterjee said.
During the talks, PM Modi appreciated the Amir for bringing top Qatari businesspersons for the visit.
In February 2024 Qatar Energy and Petronet India had inked an agreement for providing 7.5 million LNG per annum to India for 20 years from 2028.
“Both sides are for expanding the energy partnership including through mutual investment,” he added.
Of the two agreements inked, one is for establishment of a bilateral strategic partnership and the other for a revised double taxation avoidance agreement.
Of the five MoUs signed – they comprised on economic partnership, cooperation in archives, documentation and youth affairs and sports.
On the sidelines of the business meeting in the morning, Invest India and Invest Qatar signed an Mou for promoting mutual investments, Chatterjee said.
PM Modi thanked the Amir for support of the Indian community especially during the Covid period, and the Amir appreciated the Indian community for the development of Qatar.
“The Amir’s visit provided an excellent opportunity for the top leadership of the two countries to discuss and cement a strategic partnership for enhanced future cooperation as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest,” he added.
Answering questions, he said while India and the GCC are negotiating an FTA, India and Qatar during the talks today decided to explore the possibility of an FTA in the future.
Both sides discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, and both sides conveyed their mutual stands.
On the number of Indians in Qatari jails, he said that the Indian diaspora is the largest in Qatar. There are at present 600 Indians in Qatari jails and from time to time the Qatari leadership extends pardons to the prisoners. In 2024, the Qatari leadership extended pardons to 84 Indians.
An agreement on transfer of prisoners is awaiting ratification from the Qatari side, he added.
On the issue of a naval official continuing to remain in Qatari detention, he said that the matter is subjudice in the Qatari court.
UNI RN