India and Qatar have agreed to accelerate negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Free Trade Agreement as the two countries seek to deepen trade and investment ties.
The discussions also covered the implementation of Qatar’s $10 billion investment commitment to India and plans for the Qatar Investment Authority to establish an office in the country.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held discussions with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, on the sidelines of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Annual Meeting in Doha. According to the Ministry of Finance, both sides expressed interest in completing the investment treaty and speeding up engagement on the proposed trade agreement.
Qatar highlighted investment opportunities across India’s ports, airports, highways and power sectors. Indian companies, meanwhile, were identified as having opportunities in Qatar in areas including food security, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, education, healthcare and start-ups.
The two sides also reviewed progress on Qatar’s proposed $10 billion investment commitment and the establishment of a Qatar Investment Authority office in India. The initiatives are aimed at facilitating greater institutional investment and expanding commercial engagement between the two economies.
Trade connectivity was another focus of the discussions. Sitharaman stressed the importance of restoring normal trade flows between India, Qatar and other Gulf countries, including ensuring unimpeded maritime navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.
At a separate Qatari Businessmen Association roundtable in Doha, Sitharaman highlighted India’s economic growth and investment opportunities. The Indian side pointed to strong recent economic indicators and encouraged Qatari businesses to explore partnerships in trade and investment.
The Ministry of Finance said India’s real GDP growth reached 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of FY26, while investment growth stood at 11.9 per cent. It also highlighted India’s record annual gross foreign direct investment inflow of $94.53 billion in FY26.
The discussions come as India and Qatar seek to broaden their economic relationship through investment, trade and greater private-sector participation. Accelerated negotiations on the Bilateral Investment Treaty and Free Trade Agreement could provide a framework for expanding these ties across a wider range of sectors.
