Ambassador of India stressed that Qatar is the most advanced in terms of labor laws in the region.

The success of the Qatar World Cup is the best response to the propaganda campaigns:

-The presence of the Indian Vice President at the opening ceremony confirms our appreciation for our strong relations.

-Calling Indian fans fake by Western reports reflects ignorance and prejudice.

-Indian fans are among the highest purchasers of World Cup tickets by about 400,000.

HE Dr. Deepak Mittal, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the State, affirmed that Qatar's successful organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is the best response to the propaganda campaign against hosting the tournament, stressing the pride of the expatriate Indian workforce in its contributions to development projects and infrastructure for this great achievement, appreciating the sponsorship.The Indian community enjoys on the part of the State of Qatar, the leadership, the government and the people.

His Excellency said in an interview with the World Cup flag: The fans' experience is the best response to any criticism from any side, because we see this experience on a daily basis on the ground, and Qatar has effectively responded to all criticism that should not be given weight, because the answer lies in successful implementation and organization. He stressed that the presence of the Indian Vice President at the opening ceremony is a strong message that reflects our appreciation for our important relations with Qatar and the amazing work that has been done.

He stressed that Qatar has proven to be the most advanced in terms of labor laws in the region, pointing out that the description by Western media reports of some Indian fans during the tournament as fake or paid, perhaps reflects ignorance or prejudice, because football is popular in India like most countries in the world, explaining that The Indian fans were among the largest ticket holders with about 400,000 tickets, with about 70,000 people from India attending not only to watch the matches, but also to visit Qatar, which is one of the safest countries, with which we have ancient historical friendship, as many details were revealed in the following dialogue:

-We are proud of the contribution of the Indian expatriate powers to the World Cup projects.

-The fans' experience and enjoyment of the tournament is a realistic response to criticism.

-Many fans are impressed by the amazing stadiums and Qatari hospitality.

positive feelings

--How do you see Qatar organizing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as it approaches its end, especially since it was the first tournament in the Middle East and the second in Asia?

The organization of the World Cup is truly wonderful and constituted a great opportunity for the peoples of the region as it is closer to them and sent a strong message about the ability of the region to successfully organize such a huge event while spreading messages of peace, brotherhood, sportsmanship and unification of peoples. We heard and saw that millions of fans attended and enjoyed a different culture in this part of the world, and saw diversity, hospitality and love. The Indian Vice President attended the opening ceremony, among many leaders, emphasizing the support of the State of Qatar and the importance of the tournament in bringing together and uniting different peoples and cultures, especially in a period witnessing There are many tensions in the world. Many of the fans I have met are impressed by the fantastic stadiums and have very positive feelings about the organisation, many of whom are visiting Qatar for the first time. Qatar has completed many amazing projects over the past decade in terms of infrastructure, including stadiums that reflect Qatari culture and hospitality, such as Al-Bayt Stadium, Al-Thumama Stadium and others.

Great pride

--How do you feel with the estimated contributions of the Indian workforce to a large part of the infrastructure and World Cup projects?

As an ambassador of India, I feel very proud of our contribution to these great efforts through our companies and our citizens. As you know, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium was built in cooperation between an Indian company and a Qatari company, which confirms the ability to implement the most modern projects. Of course, there were significant contributions from the Indian workforce of engineers, technicians and skilled workers, reflecting the strong partnership between our two countries. Many in India are now returning their contributions to these projects and feel great pride in showing them to the world.

Indian audiences

--How large is the Indian community, and did you notice an increase in its numbers during the World Cup?

We have more than 800,000 Indian citizens in Qatar, and it is one of the major communities for which we highly value the sponsorship of His Highness and the Qatari government. They live happily and actively contribute to the development the country is witnessing. We appreciate the Qatari confidence in the Indian community and their choice as partners, and we saw a remarkable growth in numbers during the Cup The world and Indians are among the largest ticket holders with about 400,000 tickets, and about 70,000 came from India for their interest not only in watching the matches, but also in visiting Qatar, one of the safest countries that has long-standing friendship with our country, and the easiest ways to travel link us with about 200 flights per week. to 13 cities in India, and many Indians were eager to visit Qatar, and we expect that these visits will continue and be strengthened after the tournament, especially after what they saw of the impressive development, capabilities and organization of the tournament and the hospitality they enjoyed.

Ignorance and prejudice

--How did you feel when some Western media reports described some Indian fans in Qatar as fake or paid?

I completely ignore such things that may be caused by ignorance or prejudice, and most importantly, football in India is very popular and there are many Indian fans of teams like Brazil, Argentina and even European clubs, so calling them fake or paid is disturbing to them and football and shows the ignorance of these reports.

Success is the best answer

--Qatar faced fierce propaganda campaigns and attempts to impose different cultures. How do you see Qatar's position and the large presence of the masses despite these campaigns?

For me, the most important thing is what we see in Qatar on the ground. I am a witness to the development and the great efforts behind it, the successful organization of the championship, and the recent experience of the masses is the best response to any criticism from any side, because we see this experience on a daily basis on the ground, and Qatar has responded effectively to all of these. Criticisms and we should not give those criticisms value or weight, because the answer lies in successful implementation and organization and we know very well these criticisms and ignore them completely, and being the largest exporter of expatriate labor in this country, we contribute to the development of infrastructure and the participation of the Indian Vice President in the opening ceremony is a strong message Our appreciation for our relations with Qatar and their importance, and recognition of the amazing work that has been done with the cooperation of all.

Groundbreaking reforms

--What is your assessment of the labor reforms undertaken by Qatar so far?

We highly appreciate and value the reforms that Qatar has undertaken to labor laws. Qatar has adopted very positive and advanced measures. His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Minister of Labor, confirmed that these reforms are not related to the World Cup, but are part of Qatar's Vision 2030, as they do not stop with the end of the tournament, but rather continue. This high-level commitment reflects the continuity of reforms that have made a positive change in the lives of workers, as Qatar has proven to be the most advanced in terms of labor laws in the region.

World Cup food security

--What would you say to those who might limit India-Qatar relations to the labor sector?

Perhaps they do not realize the depth and scope of the relations between our two countries, which go back centuries. They are historical relations based on very strong ties between the peoples of the two countries and reinforced by trust and mutual understanding since the time of ancient trade. Our relations are now very diverse. We have a trade and investment partnership with more than 15 thousand registered Indian companies, among the largest investors. In Qatar, as well as a partnership in the energy sector, as Qatar plays an important role in India's energy security, as well as cooperation in the food security sector. We worked during the tournament with Qatar to provide FIFA's requirements for additional food commodities despite the global challenges facing supply chains. We also have a broad cultural and educational partnership, as well as a partnership in the sectors of technology, entrepreneurship, innovative systems, and others. It is a multi-faceted and integrated partnership. The tournament was a wonderful opportunity to show the close cultural relations between our two countries and the great interdependence between the two peoples, and this was demonstrated in many cultural events such as the Bollywood show at Lusail Stadium before the start of the World Cup in a clear message that we are part of life in Qatar, in addition to a huge march of the Indian community in Katara in support For the championship and the unveiling of one of the largest boats built by Indians in the Guinness Book of Records, as well as the distinctive Indian food and other activities that show the strength of the bonds between our peoples.

trade growth

--What is the extent of the development of trade exchange and its prospects in the future?

The volume of trade exchange between our two countries exceeded 15 billion dollars last year, and in the first half of this year it reached about 9 billion dollars, which means the possibility of exceeding last year’s numbers, and this is due to the diversification of the trade and investment basket, not limited to energy and gas, and many Indian companies have already Last month, I searched in Qatar for new partnerships, and Qatar is heading further east, and since 2020, foreign investments from Qatar have grown more than five times, in addition to three billion dollars allocated for investment opportunities in new emerging sectors, in addition to the search for private companies from Qatar for investment opportunities. In India, there is evidence of the great potential of our two countries and that we are on a very positive path to strengthening relations.

Boost

--To what extent did the tournament change stereotypes about the region?

Visiting the masses to Qatar, most of them for the first time, helps them understand the extent of the country’s diversity, as it includes many nationalities from different parts of the world, while presenting the Qatari and Arab culture and lifestyle to see for themselves the level of development and progress, which constitutes a strong impetus and greater impetus for the arrival of more tourists and its impact on economic development. By strengthening efforts to diversify the economy, all of which are positive effects of the tournament, and the fans will return to their homelands with positive memories, and they will tell their families and friends, and they will return to visit Qatar again.

World Cup legacy

--What is your assessment of the tournament’s legacy of stadiums and facilities that take into account sustainability and the donation of parts of the stadiums to other countries?

I very much appreciate Qatar's vision and positive message about the concern for sustainability in building the World Cup facilities, for it to be a carbon-neutral tournament and to leave a strong legacy, as will happen with the dismantling of the impressive 974 stadium and the transfer of parts of some stadiums to other countries for the enjoyment of football fans and the development of the game. It is a strong and insightful vision for the State of Qatar.

Promising opportunities

--A final word on relations and what is new on the agenda of cooperation in the near future between the two countries?

I affirm that our relations are strong and multifaceted in all sectors, and there is no room for cooperation except that we work together, and we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations with Qatar next year 2023, and it will also be a good opportunity to deepen and strengthen the existing partnership between us, and explore new sectors, especially in light of the links and communication The close relationship between the two countries and their peoples, and we will work to enhance mutual investments, as India currently chairs the Group of Twenty, which gives us an opportunity to work and cooperate to develop ideas for the benefit of the global economy, and we want to develop cooperation in the energy sector so that it is not limited to the process of buying and selling energy, but also production, India has ambitious goals By switching to renewable energy, but on the way, so we are working to increase gas as part of our energy mix from the current 5% to 15%, which means a good opportunity for the State of Qatar to participate in the development of infrastructure in the gas sector. Also in the food security sector, with the United Nations searching for alternatives to traditional grains and diversifying into millet grains to produce flour as a food source rich in protein and energy, and India is one of the largest exporters of it and can cooperate with Qatar to present it as an alternative that enhances the diversity of the food basket for the world, in addition to cooperation in 6G technology and computing High-speed, space technology, hydrogen energy and other promising sectors to promote and diversify cooperation between our two countries.