Commerce Ministers of India and Qatar address Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting in Doha

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, is on an official visit to Doha, Qatar on 6–7 October 2025 to co-chair the meeting of the India–Qatar Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial  Cooperation along with H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Qatar.

The first day of his visit began with a floral tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Embassy of India in Doha, followed by the planting of a sapling under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative, symbolizing India’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

A bilateral meeting of Commerce and Industry ministers of both sides was also held, where both Ministers reviewed the overall trade and economic relationship, addressed existing trade barriers, and explored new areas for cooperation in sectors such as finance, agriculture,  healthcare etc.

The two Ministers then jointly addressed the India–Qatar Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting, attended by senior representatives from FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, and the Qatar Chamber, along with members of the business community from both countries. The Commerce and Industry Minister of India highlighted that despite global economic headwinds and supply chain disruptions, India continues to demonstrate strong macroeconomic stability for a thriving start-up ecosystem creating a highly enabling environment for global businesses and urged the Indian and Qatari business to explore greater opportunities.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry co-chaired the Qatar–India Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial Cooperation with H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Qatar. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties, addressing existing trade barriers and non-tariff challenges, and identifying new opportunities to boost economic cooperation across key sectors. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to pursuing an ambitious India–Qatar Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. While appreciating Qatar’s energy exports, including the long-term LNG supply agreement of 7.5 million tonnes per year from 2028, Shri Goyal stressed the need to boost India’s exports to Qatar. Despite bilateral trade standing at around USD 14 billion, both leaders recognized significant untapped potential of doubling bilateral trade by 2030. He identified promising sectors such as electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, processed food, textiles, gems and jewellery, IT, and emerging high-tech industries  and solar energy. He also underscored the importance of greater business interactions, and the success of the first face-to-face Joint Business Council meeting in fostering deeper economic ties.

On the side lines of the Joint Commission, the Hon’ble Minister held a series of high-level business meetings with senior Qatari dignitaries and corporate leaders. These interactions provided an opportunity to discuss avenues for greater investment flows, technology partnerships, and joint ventures between Indian and Qatari enterprises. Minister also participated in the launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at Lulu Mall, The Pearl Island, marking a key milestone in India’s digital cooperation with Qatar and enabling seamless digital transactions for the Indian diaspora and local consumers.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal, during his first visit to Qatar, addressed the vibrant Indian community, appreciating their role as a strong pillar of India–Qatar relations. He highlighted the deepening bilateral ties under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and His Highness the Amir of Qatar, including the recent decision to elevate the relationship to a strategic partnership and the goal of doubling trade by 2030. Minister acknowledged the Indian community’s significant contributions to Qatar’s development and India’s growing economic strength, emphasizing India’s emergence as the world’s fastest-growing major economy and its vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.  Reaffirming India’s commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and global cooperation, he urged the Indian diaspora to continue serving as an important bridge between the two nations and as key partners in realizing India’s growth vision.

Comprehensive economic partnership seeks to double bilateral trade and enhance investment and digital payments cooperation. Pursuit of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement drives bilateral efforts to strengthen trade and investment, remove tariff and non tariff barriers, and diversify exports to priority sectors including electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, processed food, textiles, gems and jewellery, IT, high tech industries and solar energy. Operational measures include ministerial consultations, joint business council engagement to facilitate private sector linkages, promotion of investment and technology partnerships, and digital payment interoperability as a practical integration step.