India-Qatar Friendship Shines in Trade & Diplomacy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Qatar on February 14 and 15, marking his second official visit to the country, the first being in 2016. The visit followed the recent release of eight Indian nationals detained in Qatar, who had previously faced a death sentence. The Indians were sentenced to death by Qatar in October 2023 for charges not yet officially disclosed. Later, Qatar’s court of appeal commuted the death sentence in December, a development believed to have occurred after the Indian PM met with Qatar's Emir during the COP28 Summit held in Dubai in November 2023.

Formal diplomatic relations between India and Qatar were established in 1973, with ties strengthening in recent years due to robust economic and trade collaborations. With over 800,000 Indian expatriates in Qatar, there exists a strong people-to-people connection driving mutual growth.

During the India Energy Week in Goa from February 6 to 9, QatarEnergy and India's Petronet signed a significant agreement for the supply of LNG from Qatar to India, solidifying energy cooperation for the next two decades. Bilateral trade between Qatar and India reached $15 billion in FY21 and $ 18.77 billion in FY22, while Qatar's investment in India surged fivefold from 2020 to 2022.

During his recent visit, PM Modi held discussions with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, focusing on enhancing cooperation in various sectors including trade, investment, energy, finance, and technology. Talks also covered regional developments in West Asia, emphasising the importance of peace and stability.

Narendra Modi’s meetings with Qatar's Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Father Amir, HH Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, underscored the contributions of the Indian diaspora to Qatar's development and highlighted the strong bilateral ties and partnership between the two nations. 

The strong relationship between India and Qatar, evident in growing economic and diplomatic ties, has been further bolstered with the release of the eight Navy veterans and their returning home to India. The countries solving the issue without the intervention of any international agencies reflect the deepening friendship between the nations and underscores India's gaining momentum in global diplomacy.