India and Qatar on Saturday agreed on joint action to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing and discussed enhancing cooperation in defence and security, particularly in cyber security on which a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed.
Holding bilateral talks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said both nations should go beyond the buyer-seller relationship to include joint ventures, joint research and development and joint exploration in energy cooperation, and highlighted tremendous opportunities available for Qatari investment in India's infrastructure and energy sectors. Indian companies are ready to invest in both upstream and downstream projects in Qatar in the hydrocarbon sector, said sources.
They acknowledged that the current level of trade and investment was much below potential.
The Prime Minister also outlined various measures taken by his government to open up the Indian economy and welcome Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and recalled India's import of 8 Million tonnes of Urea every year. He said India, which could meet Qatari needs in the area of food security, would welcome a long-term arrangement with Qatar for the supply of Urea.
The Qatari PM invited India's participation in infrastructure and investment opportunities coming up in the wake of Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and also welcomed Indian investment in the port sector of Qatar, said sources.
They also discussed the regional situation, particularly in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
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Five agreements were signed today in areas such as visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports; technical cooperation in cyber space and combating cyber crime, Letter of Intent regarding negotiations on an agreement on grant of e-visa for businessmen and tourists, and an MoU between Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of Qatar & CII.
Additionally, another MoU aimed at encouraging greater collaboration and exchange in the field of national ports management was also signed.
The delegation-level talks reviewed India-Qatar relations in depth, in particular on the follow-up of the landmark decisions taken during PM Modi's visit to Qatar in June 2016.
Prime Minister Modi said the visit of the Prime Minister of Qatar showed the growing bilateral ties with Qatar, which India has always regarded as a valued partner.
Later today, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will call on the Qatari PM, who will call on President Pranab Mukherjee before emplaning for Doha in late evening.
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