An 18-member high-level official delegation led byHE Sultan bin Rashid Al Khater, Undersecretary in Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Government of Qatar visited New Delhi on 25-26 March, 2014.

Among members of the visiting delegation were Qatar’s Ambassador to India, and senior officials of Qatar including 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.

Government of India’s delegation at the official discussions with the Qatari delegation was led by Dr. Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance and 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; Fertilizers; Civil Aviation; and Tourism.

HE Al Khater met with Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) in Ministry of Finance, and Secretary (East) in 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 cooperation between India and Qatar. Both sides discussed issues and proposals of mutual interest in a number of sectors including investment; banking and finance; energy; petrochemicals and fertilizers; 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 cooperation in the above-mentioned and other sectors, and agreed to actively follow up 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 organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

‘India-Qatar Business Forum’ organized by CII was addressed by Mr. E.M.S. Natchiappan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Government of India; HE Sultan bin Rashid Al Khater, leader of the Qatari delegation; and Mr. Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.