India, Qatar Poised To Deepen Trade and Investment Ties, Says Minister

India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, has called for a renewed push to strengthen economic ties between India and Qatar, describing the relationship as a “shining example of economic co-operation in the 21st century”.

Speaking at the ‘Qatar-India Joint Business Council’ meeting in Doha, Goyal said both countries are aligned in their development goals and share a vision for transforming their economies into advanced, knowledge-based systems rooted in sustainability.

“Our goal is to double bilateral trade by 2030,” Goyal said, emphasising the need for business leaders from both nations to collaborate and seize emerging opportunities.

Goyal also proposed launching negotiations for a free trade agreement, which he said would “facilitate greater engagement, greater bilateral trade, and greater investment opportunities”.

He highlighted India’s economic resilience and growth potential, pointing to sectors such as clean energy, infrastructure, healthcare, technology, and agriculture as attractive avenues for Qatari investors.

“Indian investments by and large have given very good returns to investors across the world,” said Goyal, who welcomed the decision for the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to open an office in India, describing it as a step towards “substantially enhancing Qatari investments”.

He also encouraged Indian businesses to explore opportunities in Qatar, praising the country’s resources and strategic position within the GCC.