Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal paid an official visit to Doha, Qatar, to co-chair the India–Qatar Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial Cooperation with H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Qatar.
This was the first meeting of the upgraded Joint Commission, following the decision during the Amir of Qatar’s visit to India in February 2025 to elevate the earlier Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce. The visit reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to deepening their strategic economic partnership.
During the meeting, both Ministers:
Reviewed bilateral trade valued at over USD 14 billion in 2024–25, and identified steps to enhance and diversify trade in goods and services.
Set a shared goal to double bilateral trade by 2030, focusing on energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, finance, technology, and green growth.
Agreed to expedite the Terms of Reference (ToR) for launching formal negotiations on the India–Qatar Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Welcomed the USD 10 billion investment commitment from Qatar announced during the Amir’s visit to India.
Highlighted cooperation in digital economy, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, culture, and environment.
On the sidelines, Shri Goyal held high-level meetings with Qatari dignitaries and business leaders to explore opportunities in food security, trade finance, infrastructure, and industrial investment.
He also addressed the first India–Qatar Joint Business Council (JBC), attended by senior business representatives from FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, and the Qatar Chamber, and interacted with the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA).
A major highlight of the visit was the launch of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services in Qatar, marking a new chapter in digital cooperation and enabling seamless transactions for the Indian diaspora and local consumers.
Shri Goyal also engaged with the Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC), the Doha Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), and members of the Indian community, appreciating their role in strengthening bilateral ties.
The visit concluded with a reaffirmation of India and Qatar’s shared vision for a forward-looking, diversified, and resilient economic partnership, built on mutual trust, energy collaboration, innovation, and strong people-to-people connections.