Qatar Amir’s state visit begins with personal reception by PM Modi

The Qatar Amir’s two-day visit to India focuses on boosting trade and cultural exchanges.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a rare diplomatic gesture on Monday, personally receiving the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, upon his arrival in New Delhi for a two-day state visit.

The Amir’s visit, from February 17 to 18, aims to strengthen the already deep-rooted ties between India and Qatar in various fields, including trade, investment, energy, technology, and culture.

The Qatar Amir, accompanied by a high-level delegation, was welcomed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by PM Modi himself, alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Modi expressed his warm welcome on social media, describing Sheikh Tamim as his "brother" and wishing him a fruitful stay in India.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)

The Amir’s state visit is seen as a continuation of the strong bilateral relationship that India shares with Qatar. India and Qatar have strengthened ties over the years, particularly in areas like trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. Indian expatriates form the largest foreign community in Qatar, contributing significantly to the country’s growth.

During his visit, Sheikh Tamim is scheduled to meet PM Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to discuss various aspects of their partnership. The visit is also expected to result in the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at furthering collaboration between the two nations.

On February 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that this visit will “further momentum to the growing multifaceted partnership” between the two countries. Qatar’s Amir had last visited India in March 2015.

A joint business forum, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Commerce, is also planned for February 18, where business leaders and policymakers will explore new opportunities for collaboration in sectors like technology and energy.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will address the forum, alongside Sheikh Tamim, underscoring the mutual commitment to fostering economic cooperation between the two nations.

Earlier, Modi met Tesla CEO Elon Musk at Blair House in Washington, DC, during his two-day visit to the US

The meeting focused on strengthening the technological partnership between India and the United States, particularly in areas such as space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.

Discussions also touched on the pending approval of Starlink’s license in India, with Musk seeking regulatory clearance for his satellite internet service to operate in the country.

The meeting followed Musk's discussions with US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. PM Modi was joined by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.