Jun 05: Hon’ble Vice President of India (HVPI) Shri M Venkaiah Naidu arrived in Doha yesterday (4 June 2022), on the third leg of his 3-nation tour. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation including Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar and three Members of Parliament, Shri Sushil Kumar Modi (Rajya Sabha), Shri Vijay Pal Singh Tomar (Rajya Sabha) and Shri P. Ravindhranath (Lok Sabha). HVPI was warmly received by H.E. Mr Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and accorded a ceremonial welcome with a Guard of Honour upon arrival.
Today (5 June) morning, HVPI called on Father Amir H.H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Later, he met the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani at Amiri Diwan. Minister of Public Health H.E. Dr Hanan Mohammad Al Kuwari and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi were also present during the meeting. Both sides positively assessed the developments in bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen their historic friendship in all areas.
HVPI expressed happiness at the first-ever visit at the Vice President level from India to Qatar. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the continued engagement at the highest levels between both countries since the landmark visits of Qatar’s Amir to India in 2015 and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Qatar in 2016. They agreed that high-level engagement should be sustained, including through an early visit of Qatar’s Amir to India. Both sides also looked forward to the convening of the Joint Commission between the two sides at the Foreign Minister level later this year. Both sides also agreed to promote bilateral parliamentary exchanges.
HVPI reiterated the high importance attached by India to close and friendly relations with Qatar and the commitment to deepen multifaceted bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, food security, defence, technology, culture, education, health, and media people to people contacts. He thanked the Qatari leadership for taking great care of the Indian community. On his part, H.H. Father Amir recalled the historic relations between both countries which are based on mutual trust and appreciated the contribution of the Indian community to the development of Qatar. An understanding has been reached to set up an ICCR Chair of Indian Studies at Qatar University. ANI and Qatar News Agency have also agreed to enhance bilateral media cooperation.
Both sides expressed a strong commitment to further enhance bilateral trade and investment cooperation. H.H. Father Amir asked HVPI about sectors for more investment opportunities in India. HVPI invited the Qatari side to explore the significant opportunities in a range of sectors including infrastructure, connectivity both physical and digital, energy, defence and hospitality. Qatar side also invited Indian entities to look for opportunities in sectors like education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare in Qatar. Both sides discussed the impact of recent global developments on food and energy security. They renewed their long-term commitment to energy partnership. HVPI assured the Qatari leadership of India’s assistance in meeting Qatar’s food security.
Later today, HVPI will address an India-Qatar Business Forum jointly organized by FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM, along with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Leading businessmen from both India and Qatar are expected to participate in the Business Forum. A Start-Up Bridge between Invest India and Invest Qatar will be inaugurated by HVPI during the Forum. It is hoped that the Forum will result in new networking opportunities for trade and investment between both sides. Qatar’s FDI in India is in excess of USD 450 million and there is great potential for increasing these investments. Invest India and the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar have reached an understanding on cooperation to promote two-way investments between both countries.
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