PM Modi met Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha. They focused on strengthening the relationship between India and Qatar. This meeting happened shortly after Qatar released eight former Indian Navy members who were arrested in August 2022 and later sentenced to death. Modi traveled to Qatar after visiting the United Arab Emirates.
Before meeting Emir Tamim, Modi met Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister. They discussed increasing cooperation between the two countries in areas like trade, investment, energy, finance, and technology. They also talked about recent events in West Asia and the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region and beyond. After their meeting, the Qatari prime minister hosted a dinner for Modi.
This was Modi’s second visit to Qatar, following the release of the Indian Navy personnel. Their death sentences were commuted to jail terms by Qatar’s Court of Appeal. The charges against them were not made public, but it was said they faced accusations of espionage.
Qatar is a significant supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India, supplying over 48% of India’s global LNG imports. India’s Petronet has extended a contract to purchase 7.5 million tonnes of LNG from Qatar annually for 20 years, starting in 2029. This extension is the largest-ever of its kind in the world. The original deal was signed in 1999 and started supplying LNG in 2004.
India-Qatar cooperation has grown steadily across various sectors in recent years. Modi’s first visit to Doha in June 2016 aimed to strengthen bilateral ties. It was the highest-level visit from India to Qatar since 2008.
During December’s COP28 Summit in Dubai, Modi met with the Qatari Amir to discuss the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar.
Overall, the relationship between India and Qatar has seen significant growth, particularly in trade, energy, and bilateral cooperation.