Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the presence of senior government officials, held delegation-level talks with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, wherein both countries decided to elevate ties to a strategic partnership.

Union Ministers Hardeep Puri, Piyush Goyal, Nirmala Sitharaman, Mansukh Mandaviya and PK Mishra were part of Indian delegation. The two sides also exchanged several Memorandums Of Understanding (MoUs) in trade, technology and investments.

India and Qatar signed an agreement to formally elevate their ties to a strategic partnership between the two countries in the presence of PM Modi and Sheikh Tamim, with focus on trade, energy, investments, innovation, technology, food security, culture and people-to-people ties.

They also signed a revised agreement or avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes. The double taxation agreement is a crucial step for establishing a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.