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India and Qatar have decided to elevate their ties to a Strategic Partnership level with focus on trade, energy, investments and innovation.

This development followed bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in Hyderabad House in the National Capital on Tuesday the 19th of February 2025.

The MEA spokesperson said in a post on X that the two leaders held wide-ranging talks.

“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.”

The Amir arrived in New Delhi yesterday evening as the Prime Minister making a special gesture to receive the Amir at the Palam Technical Airport.

This is the second visit of the Qatari leader to India. He last visited India in March 2015.

It may be recalled that Modi paid his second visit to Qatar in February 2024.

The CEOs of several top Qatari entities such as Qatar Investment Authority and Qatar Tourism are also part of the delegation.

After the bilateral talks held at Hyderabad House, two agreements and five memorandums of understanding were signed.

The first agreement is on the establishment of a bilateral strategic partnership. A revised double taxation avoidance agreement was also signed.

Both sides have also signed MOUs during the visit including on economic partnership, cooperation in the area of archives and documentation and youth affairs and sports.

Trade, investment and energy were among the major topics of discussion between the two leaders today. The trade today between India and Qatar is about US $14 billion annually. Both sides have agreed to set a target to double this in the next five years.

Qatar is also an important partner for investments in India. The Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, currently has about US $1.5 billion FDI in India in sectors like retail, power, IT, education, health, affordable housing etc.

India and Qatar share a very vibrant partnership in the area of energy. Qatar is a major source of LNG for India.

Last year in February 2024, Qatar Energy and Petronet LNG Limited had signed an agreement for supply of 7.5 million metric tonnes per annum of LNG from Qatar to India for 20 years starting 2028.