At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, will undertake a State Visit to India on February 17-18, 2025. The Amir will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including key ministers, senior government officials, and a prominent business delegation, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.
This will be His Highness’ second State Visit to India, following his March 2015 visit, underlining the strong and time-tested diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Doha.
1️⃣ Ceremonial Welcome and High-Level Talks
🔹 February 18, 2025 – The Amir will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by official engagements with Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu, who will also host a state banquet in his honor.
🔹 Bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will focus on:
✅ Trade and Investment – Expanding economic cooperation and joint ventures.
✅ Energy Security – Strengthening Qatar’s role as a key LNG supplier to India.
✅ Technology and Innovation – Collaborations in AI, fintech, and cybersecurity.
✅ Infrastructure and Connectivity – Enhancing port, aviation, and digital connectivity.
✅ Cultural and People-to-People Ties – Deepening historical and societal links.
2️⃣ India-Qatar Ties: A Dynamic and Evolving Partnership
The relationship between India and Qatar is rooted in history, trust, and mutual respect, with growing cooperation in trade, energy, defense, technology, and culture.
📌 Economic & Trade Cooperation
🔹 Qatar is India’s largest supplier of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), playing a pivotal role in India’s energy security.
🔹 Bilateral trade reached $18 billion in 2024, making Qatar one of India’s key economic partners in the Gulf region.
🔹 Several leading Indian companies, including L&T, TCS, and Wipro, are actively engaged in Qatar’s infrastructure and technology sectors.
📌 Indian Diaspora: Strengthening Cultural & Economic Ties
🔹 With over 800,000 Indians residing in Qatar, the Indian community is the largest expatriate group in the country.
🔹 India acknowledges Qatar’s continued support for the welfare and prosperity of its Indian workforce.
3️⃣ Strategic Significance of the Visit
The State Visit of HH the Amir of Qatar is expected to:
✅ Deepen political and diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Doha.
✅ Strengthen economic and energy cooperation, particularly in renewable energy and LNG.
✅ Enhance collaboration in defense and security to address regional challenges.
✅ Facilitate new investment opportunities, including joint ventures in infrastructure, startups, and fintech.
With Qatar being a key economic player in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and an important partner in India’s ‘Act West’ Policy, the visit will provide fresh momentum to the multi-faceted India-Qatar strategic partnership, setting the stage for new collaborations in the 21st century.