New Delhi: In a significant development for India-Qatar relations, both nations have decided to elevate their ties to a Strategic Partnership, focusing on areas including trade, energy, investments, innovation, technology, food security, culture, and people-to-people connections. This move was confirmed during a high-level delegation talk between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, held in New Delhi. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global matters of mutual interest.
During the talks, two crucial Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, aimed at bolstering the strategic partnership between India and Qatar. These agreements focus on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion on income taxes. The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of both leaders, with key officials from both sides, including India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in attendance.
Earlier in the day, a ceremonial welcome was extended to the Amir of Qatar at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan, where President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, and several Union Ministers were present.
The visit also witnessed the signing of two additional MoUs aimed at enhancing business and investment collaboration. These agreements were signed by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, in the presence of key stakeholders from both countries. The MoUs were exchanged between the Qatari Businessmen Association and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), as well as between Invest Qatar and Invest India.
Addressing the India-Qatar Business Forum, Minister Goyal emphasized that the future of India-Qatar relations would be anchored in sustainability, technology, entrepreneurship, and energy. He pointed out that the evolving landscape of trade and business is moving beyond traditional energy exchanges, with emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), quantum computing, and semiconductors becoming increasingly prominent.
Minister Goyal also highlighted the investment potential within India, emphasizing that ongoing reforms across various sectors have significantly improved the ease of doing business. “India today provides an oasis of stability, predictability, and continuity,” he remarked. He further stressed that collaboration between India and Qatar could help align the two countries’ visions—India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 and Qatar’s National Vision 2030—to foster greater prosperity for their people.
In his remarks, Qatar’s Commerce and Industry Minister Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani extended an invitation to Indian investors and entrepreneurs to tap into Qatar’s growing economic opportunities.
The strengthening of bilateral ties between India and Qatar, underscored by these agreements and discussions, promises to foster closer cooperation and unlock new avenues for collaboration across diverse sectors.
