On Monday, Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani started his two-day visit to India; Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to the airport to welcome him in a special way.

“Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of Qatar H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow,” PM Modi wrote on X.

On Tuesday at the meeting, PM Modi and Amir are set to discuss India-Qatar relations, focusing on trade, investment, energy, and technology. The Amir, who last visited India in March 2015, will meet President Droupadi Murmu. 

His visit coincides with ongoing negotiations to resolve the Gaza conflict, where Qatar has played a key role in facilitating hostage and prisoner exchanges. Doha is the base for Hamas representatives, and the Qatari royal family significantly influences regional affairs.

One unresolved issue between India and Qatar is the return of a former Indian Navy officer. In August 2022, eight ex-Navy personnel were arrested in Qatar on espionage charges and initially sentenced to death. Following diplomatic efforts by New Delhi, their sentences were commuted on December 28, 2023. They were released in February 2024; seven have since returned to India, while one held back in Qatar.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the Amir’s visit would provide “further momentum to our growing multifaceted partnership.” Officials highlighted that India and Qatar share “deep-rooted historical ties of friendship, trust and mutual respect. In recent years, the ties between the two countries, including in the areas of trade, investment, energy, technology, culture and people-to-people ties, have continued to strengthen.”

Indians make up the largest expatriate community in Qatar and are “appreciated for positive contribution in the progress and development of Qatar,” according to the MEA. Cooperation between the two nations across various sectors has steadily grown, supported by strong ties and regular high-level engagements between their governments.

India and Qatar have maintained regular high-level exchanges. Before the current Amir’s last state visit in March 2015, the former Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, visited India in 1999, 2005, and 2012. Modi also visited Doha for a state visit from June 4-5, 2016.

In 2022-23, trade between India and Qatar reached $18.77 billion, with India exporting goods worth $1.96 billion and importing $16.8 billion.

Qatar’s main exports to India contain LNG, LPG, chemicals, petrochemicals, plastics and aluminium products. India, in turn, exports cereals, copper, iron and steel products, vegetables, fruits, spices, processed foods, machinery, plastic goods, construction materials, textiles, chemicals, precious stones, and rubber to Qatar.

Qatar is India’s largest LNG supplier, providing 10.74 MMT worth $8.32 billion in 2022-23, which accounts for 48% of India’s total LNG imports. It is also India’s top LPG supplier, delivering 5.33 MMT worth $4.04 billion, making up 29% of India’s total LPG imports.

One of the essential pillars of the bilateral agenda between India and Qatar is Defence cooperation. India provides training opportunities at its defence institutions to several partner nations, including Qatar. It also takes part in the biennial Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX). Additionally, Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships constantly visit Qatar during bilateral engagements.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Amir on Monday. “Honoured to call on H H @TamimBinHamad, Amir of Qatar, on his arrival in New Delhi for a State Visit. Value his guidance on advancing our cooperation in many domains. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will deepen our close bonds of friendship,” Jaishankar penned a post on X.