New Delhi [India], September 30 (ANI): India and Qatar have agreed to speed up engagement on a Bilateral Investment Treaty and Free Trade Agreement (FTA), whereas advancing Qatar’s USD 10 billion funding dedication and plans to determine a Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) workplace in India, as per an announcement by the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry introduced by way of its official X account that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, on the sidelines of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) 2026 Annual Meeting in Doha.
According to the Ministry, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade highlighted funding alternatives in India’s ports, airports, highways and energy sectors, whereas pointing to alternatives for Indian firms in Qatar throughout meals safety, prescription drugs, petrochemicals, schooling, healthcare and start-ups.
The Ministry additional famous that each side additionally mentioned the “implementation of the USD 10 billion Qatari investment commitment and establishment of a QIA office in India,” and “expressed keen interest in completing the Bilateral Investment Treaty with Qatar, for which they decided on accelerated engagement, as well as the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.”
Further, Sitharaman confused the necessity to restore regular commerce between India, Qatar and different Gulf nations, together with by unimpeded maritime navigation and commerce by the Strait of Hormuz.
Separately, Sitharaman addressed the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Business Roundtable in Doha, the place the Indian facet highlighted the nation’s financial progress and funding alternatives.
India’s actual GDP progress accelerated to 7.8 per cent within the first quarter of FY26, whereas funding grew 11.9 per cent, demonstrating the resilience of the economic system amid international uncertainty, the ministry mentioned.
The Ministry additional mentioned, “The recent upgrade by Japan Credit Rating (JCR) of India’s long-term issuer rating from BBB+ to A- was also highlighted as a reflection of confidence in India’s ongoing structural reforms,” including the nation recorded its “highest-ever” annual gross FDI influx of USD 94.53 billion in FY26, the very best up to now 15 years.
During the interplay, Sitharaman mentioned rising financial alternatives in each nations and inspired Qatari companies to actively discover commerce and funding partnerships with India to additional strengthen bilateral financial ties. (ANI)