India and Qatar elevate ties to Strategic Partnership during Amir Sheikh Tamim's state visit; Qatar commits $10 billion investment
India and Qatar signed an agreement establishing a Strategic Partnership after talks between PM Narendra Modi and Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, on 18 February 2025.
Summary
Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani paid a State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025, his second, and was received by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 18 February. After talks at Hyderabad House, the two sides signed the Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership and a revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, and agreed to speed up talks on a Bilateral Investment Treaty. Qatar announced a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India, and the two sides set a target to double bilateral trade by 2030 and agreed to explore a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce was elevated to a Joint Commission headed by the Commerce Ministers, and India welcomed the Qatar Investment Authority's decision to open an office in India.
Key facts
- Visit
- 17-18 February 2025; Amir's second State Visit to India
- Key agreement
- Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership
- Also signed
- Revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
- Investment
- Qatar commits USD 10 billion in India
- Trade target
- Double bilateral trade by 2030; explore a CEPA
- Mechanism
- Joint Working Group on Trade upgraded to Joint Commission, headed by Commerce Ministers
- Other
- QIA office in India; UPI at QNB points of sale in Qatar
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Which leader of Qatar paid a State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, paid his second State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025.
During the Amir of Qatar's visit in February 2025, India-Qatar relations were elevated to which level?
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Correct answer: A — Strategic Partnership
The two sides signed the Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership.
How much investment in India did Qatar commit to, according to the India-Qatar Joint Statement of 18 February 2025?
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Correct answer: B — USD 10 billion
The Qatar side announced a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India in sectors such as infrastructure, technology, manufacturing and food security.
What bilateral trade target did India and Qatar set in February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Double trade by 2030
Both sides set the target to double bilateral trade by 2030 and agreed to explore a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Consider the following statements about the Amir of Qatar's visit to India in February 2025: 1. It was his second State Visit to India. 2. The Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce was elevated to a Joint Commission headed by the Commerce Ministers. 3. India and Qatar signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement during the visit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
It was the Amir's second State Visit, and the trade working group became a Joint Commission headed by the Commerce Ministers; on a CEPA, the sides only agreed to explore the possibility, so only the first two statements are correct.