By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, FEB 18, 2025: UNION Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, highlighted that India-Qatar future partnership will rest on the pillars of  sustainability, technology and entrepreneurship and energy. This was stated by the Minister at the inaugural session of the India-Qatar Business Forum in New Delhi today. H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Hon'ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, State of Qatar was the Guest of Honour at the session.

Goyal noted that the partnership between the two countries rests on the foundation of trust, trade and tradition. The Minister added that the terms of trade are undergoing a change, evolving from energy trade to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet of things (IOT), quantum conducting, semiconductors etc. The entire world is going through a major shift in the context of geopolitical tensions, climate change, cybersecurity threats and  focus on localisation around the world, he noted.

The Minister stated that India and Qatar complement each other and can work together for prosperity and a better future. Goyal added that together we are set for a transition in terms of trade, investments and highlighted the 2 MoUs signed between Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and another between Invest Qatar and Invest India. The Minister also announced the elevation of the Joint Working Group on trade and commerce to the Ministerial level.

Goyal quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "Today be it major nations or global platforms, the confidence in India is stronger than ever before", and urged the business leaders to work together with the same spirit and confidence. The Minister noted that India offers a vibrant economy, a rich demography with young population, reforms in every sphere of business, focus on ease of doing business and quality at the centrepiece of our industrial evolution. India today provides an oasis of stability, predictability and continuity, he added. Goyal also invited companies from Qatar to be a part of India's journey of growth in investments, manufacturing,renewable energy, expansion of smart cities and infrastructure development. Qatar Vision 2030 and India's Viksit Bharat 2047 will  together define a much bigger and brighter future for the people of the two countries, concluded the Minister.