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At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Amir of Qatar, paid a State Visit to India on February 17-18, 2025. Accompanied by a high-level delegation of ministers, officials, and business leaders, this was the Amir’s second State Visit to India.
Bilateral talks between Prime Minister Modi and the Amir at Hyderabad House on February 18 focused on strengthening trade, investment, security, and cultural ties. Both leaders expressed satisfaction over signing the ‘Agreement on the
MoUs signed to deepen bilateral relations:
• Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership
• Revised Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion
• MoU on Financial and Economic Collaboration
• MoU on Cooperation in Youth and Sports
• MoU on Cooperation in Documents and Archives
• MoU between Invest India and Invest Qatar
• MoU between the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Qatari Businessmen Association
Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership’ and the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. They also agreed to expedite negotiations on the India-Qatar Bilateral Investment Treaty.
India and Qatar reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres. They welcomed the elevation of the Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce into a Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce, to be headed by both countries’ Commerce Ministers. The leaders set a target to double bilateral trade by 2030 and explored the possibility of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
The Indian side welcomed the decision of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to open an office in India, recognizing India’s rapid economic growth. The Joint Task Force on Investments, established in June 2024, was acknowledged for advancing discussions on various investment opportunities. Qatar expressed interest in investing in sectors such as infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, food security, and logistics. In this regard, Qatar announced a commitment of USD 10 billion in investments in India. Both nations emphasized deepening cooperation between investment authorities and financial institutions.
Trade and economic cooperation will be expanded, with an emphasis on stable growth, diversification, and mutual services. The Joint Business Forum, inaugurated on February 18, 2025, was welcomed as an avenue for strengthening private-sector collaboration. Both sides highlighted the importance of trade exhibitions in fostering commercial partnerships and agreed to enhance cooperation between their export promotion agencies.
Both nations celebrated the operationalization of India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) at Qatar National Bank (QNB) Points of Sales and agreed to its nationwide rollout in Qatar.
Acknowledging the significant role of the Indian diaspora in Qatar, the Qatari leadership expressed appreciation for their contributions to Qatar’s progress. India, in turn, thanked Qatar for its support and for ensuring the welfare of the Indian community. The extension of India’s e-visa facility to Qatari nationals was also welcomed.
The Amir expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Modi for the warm hospitality and reaffirmed the strong bonds between India and Qatar. The visit underscored the shared commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation, promoting economic growth, and ensuring regional and global stability.