India and Qatar have decided to expedite cooperation on a Bilateral Investment Treaty and Free Trade Agreement (FTA), while promoting Qatar’s $10 billion investment pledge and intentions to set up a Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) office in India, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry revealed through its official X account that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had a meeting with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, during the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) 2026 Annual Meeting in Doha.
The Ministry stated that Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade emphasized investment prospects in India’s ports, airports, highways, and energy sectors, while also indicating opportunities for Indian firms in Qatar in areas such as food security, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, education, healthcare, and start-ups.
Additionally, Sitharaman emphasized the importance of reinstating regular trade among India, Qatar, and other Gulf nations, ensuring unhindered maritime navigation and trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Ministry further noted that both sides also discussed the “implementation of the $10 billion Qatari investment commitment and establishment of a QIA office in India,” and “expressed keen interest in completing the Bilateral Investment Treaty with Qatar, for which they decided on accelerated engagement, as well as the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.”
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Individually, Sitharaman spoke at the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Business Roundtable in Doha, where the Indian delegation emphasized the nation's economic advancement and investment prospects.
India's actual GDP growth increased to 7.8 percent in the initial quarter of FY26, with investment rising by 11.9 percent, showcasing the economy's strength despite global challenges, according to the Ministry.
The Ministry further said, “The recent upgrade by Japan Credit Rating (JCR) of India’s long-term issuer rating from BBB+ to A- was also highlighted as a reflection of confidence in India’s ongoing structural reforms,” adding the country recorded its “highest-ever” annual gross FDI inflow of $94.53 billion in FY26, the highest in the past 15 years.
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In the discussion, Sitharaman highlighted new economic prospects in both nations and urged Qatari companies to proactively pursue trade and investment collaborations with India to enhance bilateral economic relations.
Both parties also explored prospects in transportation, logistics, and supply chains, considering Qatar’s advantageous position and developed infrastructure as a complement to India’s industrial and commercial strengths. Enhanced collaboration in these sectors could boost trade and enhance connectivity among Gulf, Indian, and broader Asian markets.
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The QBA reiterated its dedication to ongoing interaction with the Indian business sector and to promoting direct collaborations between businesses from both nations. It also conveyed its aim to capitalize on the existing momentum in bilateral ties to enhance trade and investment and advance collaborative projects in key sectors, fostering the mutual economic interests of India and Qatar.