QBA, Indian Finance Minister discussQatar-India Trade, Investment Relations

The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) hosted a luncheon in honour of India’s Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman and her accompanying delegation, with discussions focusing on strengthening economic and investment ties between Qatar and India and expanding cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors.

The meeting, held in the presence of Indian Ambassador to Qatar HE Dr K Srikar Reddy, explored investment opportunities and promising sectors that could form the basis for partnerships, joint ventures and long-term cooperation between Qatari and Indian companies.

The discussions covered ways to further develop bilateral economic relations, increase and diversify trade, promote mutual investments and encourage companies from both countries to leverage their respective economic strengths.

Sitharaman outlined developments in the Indian economy and investment opportunities available to international investors, while the discussions also examined ways to facilitate greater cooperation between institutions and companies and encourage investment and trade flows between Qatar and India.

“India represents a strategic market for Qatari investors, given its economic size and its broad industrial and technological base. In turn, Qatar offers an advanced investment environment, a strategic location and world-class infrastructure that Indian companies can use to reach the Gulf and regional markets,” Sitharaman said.

QBA Board Member Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani said Qatar-India relations were gaining momentum, supported by strong strategic ties and mutual economic and commercial interests.

He said the coming period presented significant opportunities for the private sectors of both countries to play a greater role in translating these relations into long-term investments and projects.

“Qatar and India share well-established economic relations, but we believe there is still greater potential that the private sectors of both countries can tap into. We look forward to moving from traditional trade relations to long-term investment partnerships based on joint ventures and the transfer of technology and knowledge, creating added value for both economies,” Sheikh Nawaf said.

The meeting identified several sectors with potential to become key pillars of future Qatar-India cooperation, including technology, the digital economy and artificial intelligence, advanced industries, financial services and fintech, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics, food security and food industries, renewable energy, infrastructure, and tourism and hospitality.

Financial and banking services and fintech featured prominently in the discussions, with participants exploring opportunities to strengthen links between financial institutions and investors in both countries and develop financing and investment mechanisms to support joint projects and facilitate companies’ expansion into regional and international markets.

The two sides also discussed opportunities in transport, logistics and supply chains, with Qatar’s strategic location and advanced infrastructure seen as complementary to India’s industrial and commercial capabilities. Greater cooperation in these areas could support increased trade and strengthen connectivity between Gulf, Indian and wider Asian markets.

The luncheon was attended by QBA Board members Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani and Sherida Saad Al Kaabi, along with QBA members Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Thani, Sheikh Mansour bin Jassim Al Thani, Ibrahim Al Muftah, Yousuf Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, Dr Jaffar Ali Al Sarraf and Dr Mohammed Altaf, and QBA General Manager Sarah Abdallah.

The QBA reaffirmed its commitment to continued engagement with the Indian business community and to fostering direct partnerships between companies from the two countries. It also expressed its intention to build on the current momentum in bilateral relations to promote investment and trade and develop joint projects in priority sectors, supporting the shared economic interests of Qatar and India.