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Qatar needs Indian investment in infrastructure development and co-operation in its privatisation process, a senior Qatari official said in New Delhi, according to agencies. |
Sultan bin Rashid al-Khater, undersecretary in the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, was speaking at a business forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as part of a visit by a high-level official delegation to India.
The 18-member delegation’s two-day visit started on March 25, the Indian embassy in Doha said in a statement. The delegation was led by al-Khater.
The India-Qatar Business Forum organised by CII was addressed by EMS Natchiappan, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, India; HE al-Khater; and Anil Wadhwa, secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, India. Besides the Qatari delegation, about 40 senior representatives from Indian industry participated in the event.
Natchiappan said India was also embarking on a major infrastructure programme and investment from Qatar would facilitate the development process.
He also said India was developing several industrial corridors in the country and these projects presented a myriad of opportunities for investment by Qatari business.
Wadhwa proposed that Qatar and India step up their engagement in the energy sector. He also felt that the two countries could develop joint projects in third countries.
Further, Wadhwa noted that the volume and composition of bilateral trade between the two countries was not commensurate with its potential.
Speaking on the opportunity presented by the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Wadhwa said Indian companies would be ready and willing to help Qatar develop the necessary infrastructure for the successful organisation of the tournament.
Among members of the visiting delegation were Qatar’s ambassador to India and senior officials, including those from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Qatar Holding/Qatar Investment Authority, Hassad Food, Qatar Central Bank, Qatar Petroleum International, Qatar Airways, Muntajat, Katara Hospitality and Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Indian government’s delegation at the official discussions with the Qatari side was led by Dr Arvind Mayaram, secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. It also included India’s ambassador to Qatar and senior officials from a number of ministries/departments, including Finance, External Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises, Industrial Policy and Promotion, Disinvestment, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Fertilisers, Civil Aviation and Tourism.
Al-Khater met with the finance secretary and secretary (expenditure) in the Ministry of Finance and secretary (east) in the Ministry of External Affairs.
The two delegations had cordial and productive discussions in the framework of the historically close and friendly relations and the multi-dimensional and growing co-operation between India and Qatar.
The two sides discussed issues and proposals of mutual interest in a number of sectors, including investment, banking and finance, energy, petrochemicals and fertilisers, civil aviation and tourism. Besides delegation-level talks, meetings between counterparts from the two sides were also held.
Both sides shared the view that there is a vast potential to further strengthen co-operation in the above-mentioned and other sectors, and agreed to actively follow up on the discussions held during the visit of the Qatari delegation.
The visiting delegation also interacted with a number of representatives of India’s corporate sector at business events organised by the CII and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
