India, Qatar ink air services pact

India and Qatar on Thursday signed an agreement to step up air services between both countries and had healthy discussions on improving coop...

India and Qatar on Thursday signed an agreement to step up air services between both countries and had healthy discussions on improving cooperation in the energy sector.

The air services agreement, which was signed by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Qatar Finance Minister Yousef Hussain Kamal in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, will allow greater access to Qatar Airways that already has healthy traffic to Nepal and Mauritius.

The Emir, who arrived here on Wednesday on a three-day visit, held talks with the Prime Minister which focussed on stepping up cooperation in the energy sector.

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India has been procuring LPG from Qatar and besides dwelling on ways to improve this business, the two leaders also talked about added Indian participation in developing more petroleum products in Qatar.

Sheikh Hamad, who is leading a high-power delegation, will call on President Kalam.

He will also hold meetings with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani who had visited Qatar two years ago.