NEW DELHI: Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, was given a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan upon his arrival on Monday.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were present to greet the Qatari leader strengthening ties between India and Qatar.
State visit details
Sheikh Tamim’s state visit to India began on Monday, 17 February 2025, with his arrival in Delhi at 1845 hrs at AFS Palam. He was then greeted by external affairs Minister S Jaishankar at 2000 hrs at Hotel Leela Palace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received the Amir at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to mark the beginning of the two-day visit.
On Tuesday, 18 February, Sheikh Tamim is scheduled to have was given a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 1000 hrs, followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Modi at 1200 hrs at Hyderabad House. At 1300 hrs, an exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) will take place with photo opportunities for all media. Later, Sheikh Tamim will meet President Draupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 1900 hrs. The visit will conclude with his departure at 2105 hrs.
Expanding economic ties
Qatar is keen to expand its economic partnership with India beyond the traditional oil and gas sector, focusing on new business opportunities and investments. Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Qatar’s minister of state for foreign trade affairs, emphasised the significance of the Amir’s visit, reflecting the strong strategic partnership between the two nations.
“We are focusing on growing the non-oil and gas business where we can team up with India. We are welcoming Indian business people,” Al Sayed said in an interview with ANI.
While Qatar and India have maintained robust trade and business relations, particularly in the energy sector, Qatar is now looking to broaden its focus to include sectors such as technology and artificial intelligence.
“The world today is changing dramatically in terms of trade and business and the application of technology and AI. We continue investing in petrochemicals, oil, and gas in Qatar. We are focusing on growing the non-oil and gas business where we can team up with India,” he stated.
Encouraging Indian investments
Al Sayed also encouraged Indian businesses to explore investment opportunities in Qatar, assuring that the Qatari government is actively working to strengthen economic ties and create more partnerships across various sectors.
“We are welcoming Indian business people. We are encouraging our business society, government, and public sector to invest more in India and to create more partnership in different sectors,” he added.
Expressing enthusiasm about the visit, Al Sayed said, “I’m very glad and pleased to be here in India and looking forward to enhancing the partnership even more to the next level.”
A history of strong ties
Qatar has been one of India’s key partners in the Gulf region, with both countries engaging in significant trade and investment collaborations. The Amir’s current visit is expected to further boost economic cooperation and open new avenues for businesses in both nations.
Sheikh Tamim is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials, and a business delegation. This marks his second state visit to India, with his previous visit taking place in March 2015.