As Qatar Amir starts visit, trade, energy & tech ties on table

Modi and the Amir are expected to discuss India-Qatar ties related to trade, investment, energy and technology at their meeting on Tuesday. The Amir, who is on his second state visit to India after March 2015, will also meet President Droupadi Murmu.

His visit comes at a time when negotiations are underway to end the conflict in Gaza. Qatar has played a key role in facilitating the negotiations, leading to exchange of hostages and prisoners. Doha has been the seat of Hamas’ representatives, and the Qatar royalty plays an influential role in the region’s power dynamics.

One of the issues pending between India and Qatar is the return of a former Indian Navy personnel. In August 2022, eight former Navy personnel were arrested in Qatar on charges of espionage. They were initially handed death sentence. Following diplomatic intervention by New Delhi, the death sentence was commuted on December 28, 2023. While they were released in February 2024, and seven of the eight men have since returned to India, the last person is yet to be sent back.

The Amir’s visit will provide “further momentum to our growing multifaceted partnership”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. India and Qatar have “deep-rooted historical ties of friendship, trust and mutual respect. In recent years, the ties between the two countries, including in the areas of trade, investment, energy, technology, culture and people-to-people ties, have continued to strengthen,” officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EAM S Jaishankar welcome Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani at Delhi airport. (Source: X/@DrSJaishankar)

Indians form the largest expatriate community in Qatar, and are “appreciated for positive contribution in the progress and development of Qatar”, the MEA said. India-Qatar cooperation in diverse sectors has been steadily growing, aided by close ties and regular and substantive engagement, including at the highest levels of the two governments.

There has been regular exchange of high-level bilateral visits. Before the current Amir’s last state visit in March 2015, the then Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, also visited India in 1999, 2005 and 2012. Modi also paid a state visit to Doha from June 4-5, 2016.

India’s bilateral trade with Qatar in 2022-23 was US$ 18.77 billion, with India’s exports adding up to US$ 1.96 billion and imports at US$ 16.8 billion.

Qatar’s key exports to India include LNG, LPG, chemicals and petrochemicals, plastics and aluminium articles. India’s key exports to Qatar include cereals, copper articles, iron and steel articles, vegetables, fruits, spices, processed food products, electrical and other machinery, plastic products, construction material, textiles and garments, chemicals, precious stones and rubber.

Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India (10.74 MMT for US$ 8.32 billion in FY 2022-23), accounting for over 48% of India’s global LNG imports. Qatar is also India’s largest supplier of LPG (5.33 MMT for US$ 4.04 billion in FY 2022-23) accounting for 29% of India’s total LPG imports.

Defence cooperation forms an important pillar of the bilateral agenda. India offers training slots in its defence institutions to a number of partner countries, including Qatar. India also regularly participates in the biennial Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) in Qatar. Indian Naval and Coast Guard ships regularly visit Qatar as part of bilateral cooperation and interaction.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Amir on Monday. “Honoured to call on H H @TamimBinHamad, Amir of Qatar on his arrival in New Delhi for a State Visit. Value his guidance on advancing our cooperation in many domains. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will deepen our close bonds of friendship,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.