Trade, energy & friendship: What PM Modi and Qatar counterpart discussed

After a very successful United Arab Emirates (UAE) visit, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Bharat Mart and the first ever Hindu temple — BAPS mandir, he made his way to Qatar where he is expected to elevate ties between the two countries. Shortly after his arrival in the Qatari capital of Doha, PM Modi met his counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. He is also expected to meet the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Notably, the announcement of PM Modi’s trip to Qatar came on the same day as seven of the eight jailed former Navy personnel returned home after their earlier death sentence was commuted to jail terms. The Navy veterans had been arrested allegedly on charges of espionage. Here’s what we know so far from Modi’s meeting with his Qatar counterpart and his visit to Doha. A warm welcome On Wednesday evening, after inaugurating the grand and first ever Hindu temple in UAE — the BAPS mandir in Abu Dhabi — Prime Minister Modi arrived on Wednesday evening in Doha. This is the PM’s second visit to Qatar; he had first visited the country in June 2016. [caption id=“attachment_13729482” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Doha, Qatar. PTI[/caption] Modi was welcomed by Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, state minister for foreign affairs, at the airport. Several Indians were also present at the airport to accord Modi a warm welcome. Chants of ‘Modi, Modi’ could be heard at the airport on his arrival.

An exceptional welcome in Doha! Grateful to the Indian diaspora. pic.twitter.com/malGuS3jFW

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2024

Leaders’ talk Following his arrival, Modi met with Qatar’s PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and spoke on different aspects, including that of cooperation in sectors such as trade and investment, energy and finance. According to the External Affairs Ministry, the two leaders also discussed the recent events taking place in the West Asia region and deliberated on ways to upholding peace and stability in the region. In fact, following their discussions, PM Modi wrote on X, “Had a wonderful meeting with PM @MBA_AlThani_. Our discussions revolved around ways to boost India-Qatar friendship.”

Had a wonderful meeting with PM @MBA_AlThani_. Our discussions revolved around ways to boost India-Qatar friendship. pic.twitter.com/5PMlbr8nBQ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2024

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It is not yet known if the two leaders discussed the Indian Navy veterans , but considering the timing of the PM’s visit, some believe that their imprisonment might have figured in the talks. Following the talks, the Qatar PM hosted a dinner in honour of PM Modi. It has been reported that the PM will meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and hold talks on bilateral as well as regional and global issues on Thursday (15 February). While it is not revealed to what the two leaders will talk, officials have said that the matters ranging from bilateral relations to regional and global issues will be taken up. This is the second meeting between the Qatar Emir and PM Modi in two months; the two met last in December 2023 on the sidelines of the COP28 summit. It is believed that it was this meeting that set the ball rolling in the matter of the release of eight Indian Navy veterans. Many have speculated that the PM’s visit to Qatar is to acknowledge the release of the veterans. India-Qatar ties The two countries have deep ties, and in recent times, this has been further elevated owing to several high-level exchanges between India and Qatar. Presently, trade between India and Qatar currently stands at roughly $20 billion, and Qatar is also a significant investor in India across the whole range of economies. Notably, nearly half of India’s LNG requirement and a significant portion of its LPG needs come from Qatar. Additionally, various petrochemical products, including chemicals, plastics, and fertilizers, are imported from Qatar to India. In return, India exports metals, vegetables, and spices to Qatar. [caption id=“attachment_13729512” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The Indian diaspora in Qatar welcomes PM Modi at the Doha airport. Qatar is home to over 8 lakh Indians, who have helped in strengthening ties between the two countries. Image Courtesy: @MEAIndia/Twitter[/caption] However, India and Qatar ties go beyond just trade and business. Defence is an important pillar of cooperation between the two countries. India offers training slots in its defence institutions to a number of personnel from Qatar. Furthermore, Indian Naval and Coast Guard ships regularly visit Qatar as part of the bilateral cooperation and interaction. There’s also a cultural aspect to India-Qatar ties, which is strengthened by the estimated 8,40,000-strong diaspora living there. They comprise the largest expatriate community in Qatar and are engaged in a wide spectrum of professions including medicine; engineering; education, finance; banking; business and media apart from a large number of blue-collared workers. In addition, approximately 15,000 Indian companies, ranging from small enterprises to large corporations, operate in Qatar, with a cumulative investment of $450 million. It is important to note that since PM Modi has come to power in 2014, he has been fostering stronger ties with Qatar and other nations in the region. This comes even as China increases its involvement in West Asia. With inputs from agencies