Modi receives Qatar Emir at airport, set bilateral trade target of $28

In a rare gesture, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, at the airport in Delhi on 17th February 2025. In the two-day state visit that concluded on 18th February, the two leaders announced doubling the bilateral trade to US$ 28 billion, a revised avoidance of double taxation agreement and agreed to expand energy ties.

The airport warm hug between the leaders demonstrated friendship that has been escalated to a strategic partnership, emboldening all-round bilateral and strategic global cooperation. Sheikh Al Thani marked his second visit to India. Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to Qatar was in February 2024.

The Emir of Qatar was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and business leaders. After a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Emir met PM Modi at the Hyderabad House.

India and Qatar have deep-rooted historical ties of friendship besides areas of trade, investment, energy, technology, culture and people-to-people relations. The Indian community residing in Qatar forms the largest expatriate group there and is lauded for its contribution in the progress and development of Qatar.

Qatari investments in India have crossed $1.5 billion, particularly in telecom, retail, and infrastructure. Recently, Qatari invested $1 billion into Reliance Retail Ventures and $393 million into IndoSpace Logistics Parks in 2023.

Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary in charge of Gulf at the Ministry of External Affairs, the ongoing negotiations between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be fast-tracked as India has a precedence of having signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE in May 2022.

The focus on energy was expanded during the visit as Qatar is one of India’s largest suppliers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Qatar’s state-owned QatarEnergy extended its long-term LNG supply agreement with India’s Petronet LNG in February 2024, worth an estimated $78 billion, lasting until 2048.Additionally, India is set to receive more than 60 LNG cargoes from Qatar over the next five years, bolstering Qatar’s role as a key energy partner.

From India, companies like Larsen & Toubro, Voltas, and Wipro are eyeing Qatar with for investments totalling $356 million between 2017 and 2025.

Modi and the Emir laid emphasis on regional and global issues of mutual interest, reflecting their shared diplomatic goals. The CEOs of several top Qatari entities such as Qatar Investment Authority and Qatar Tourism were part of the delegation. The top leadership level has identified a number of areas in which the Qatar Investment Authority can increase investments in India. This includes infrastructure, ports, shipbuilding, energy including renewable energy, smart cities, food parks, start-ups, and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and machine learning.

Both countries commemorated the 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations in 2023. Two Agreements and Five Memorandums of Understanding have been signed during the State visit of His Highness the Amir.

On the issue of Indians in Qatari jails, Secretary Chatterjee said it was unfortunate that there are some 600 Indians jailed there. From time to time, Qatari leadership does grant pardons, and about 85 Indians received such pardon during 2024. A transfer of sentenced persons agreement is still awaiting ratification by the Qatari side.