NEW DELHI: Expressing interest in investing in the energy sector in Qatar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani and saw inking of four pacts for the easing of visa and cyber security fields.
The delegation-level talks were a follow-up of the decision taken during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Qatar in June this year. The two leaders discussed cooperation in various sectors. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sources said that both the leaders acknowledged that the current level of trade and investment was much below potential.
The two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in defence and security, in particular in cyber security on which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Saturday.
The two Prime Ministers agreed on joint action to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing.
The two leaders also discussed the regional situation, particularly in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
“On energy cooperation, Prime Minister Modi said that we should go beyond the buyer-seller relationship to include Joint Ventures, Joint Research and Development and Joint Exploration. Indian companies were ready to invest in both upstream and downstream projects in Qatar in the hydrocarbon sector,” sources said.
Five agreements were signed on Saturday in areas such as Visa Exemption for holders of Diplomatic, Special and Official Passports; Technical Cooperation in Cyber Space and Combating Cyber Crime, Letter of Intent regarding Negotiations on an Agreement on Grant of E-Visa for Businessmen and Tourists, and an MoU between Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of Qatar & CII.
PM Modi also highlighted various measures being taken by his government to open up Indian Economy and welcome FDI. Civil Aviation was identified as a priority sector for enhancing cooperation. PM Modi recalled that India imports 8 Million tonnes of Urea per year and said that we would welcome a long term arrangement with Qatar for the supply of Urea. He offered the visiting Qatari PM to meet its needs in the area of food security.
“The Qatari PM, who is on his maiden visit to India, invited New Delhi’s participation in infrastructure and investment opportunities coming up in the wake of Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. He also welcomed Indian investment in the port sector of Qatar,” sources said.