India, Qatar to elevate ties to ‘strategic partnership’

India and Qatar agreed on Tuesday to elevate their ties to a “strategic partnership,” with both sides exchanging an agreement in this regard.

The decision was announced after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Both leaders held wide-ranging bilateral talks at the Hyderabad House, with the focus being on enhancing trade, investments, technology, energy, food security, culture, and people-to-people ties.

The Prime Minister and Sheikh Tamim discussed the potential of a free trade deal while also planning to double bilateral trade to $28 billion over five years.

Energy security was also discussed during the meeting, with a focus on how to broaden it, the ministry of external affairs said in a media briefing following the visit.

Finance was another key area of cooperation that figured in talks, with both sides agreeing to avoid double taxation and prevent evasion of income taxes.

The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest, the ministry added.

“India-Qatar, further cementing the deep & traditional relationship. PM @narendramodi & HH Sheikh @TamimbinHamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar held wide-ranging talks at Hyderabad House today. Both leaders decided to elevate India-Qatar relations to a Strategic Partnership with focus on trade, energy, investments, innovation, technology, food security, culture & people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

🇮🇳-🇶🇦| Further cementing the deep & traditional relationship.

PM @narendramodi & HH Sheikh @TamimbinHamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar held wide-ranging talks at Hyderabad House today.

Both leaders decided to elevate India-Qatar relations to a Strategic Partnership… pic.twitter.com/SxpVcu7Cit

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 18, 2025

Sheikh Tamim arrived in India on a two-day state visit on Monday evening at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, who as a gesture of hospitality, received the former at the airport, welcoming him with a warm handshake and a hug.

Modi shared on his social media handle on X, “Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of Qatar H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow.
@TamimBinHamad”

Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of Qatar H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow.@TamimBinHamad pic.twitter.com/seReF2N26V

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2025

The Qatari Emir’s visit comes almost a year after Modi visited the Gulf nation last February.

The Emir was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included ministers, senior officials and business leaders.

Qatar is an essential partner for investments in India. Its sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), currently has about $1.5 billion in foreign direct investments in India in sectors such as retail, power, IT, education, health, and affordable housing.

Both leaders discussed new areas where QIA could ramp up investments in India including infrastructure, ports, shipbuilding, energy, including renewable energy, smart cities, food parks, startups, and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and machine learning.

The Emir’s visit is expected to lead to further growth in investments in India, Arun Kumar Chatterjee, secretary of consular, passport, visa division and overseas Indian affairs, in the ministry of external affairs said during a press briefing.

Joint business forums were held on Tuesday, co-chaired by trade minister Piyush Goyal and his Qatari counterpart.