(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar and India yesterday signed a slew of agreements during the visit of Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani to India.
The Prime Minister held official talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's residence, Hyderabad House.
The discussions were attended by members of the official delegation accompanying the Premier and a number of Indian ministers. Talks dealt with bilateral relations and means of enhancing them to better serve the interests of the two countries and their people in addition to various areas of cooperation, Qatar News Agency reported yesterday.
The two sides also exchanged views on the latest developments in the region along with a number of regional and international issues of common concern.
Following the session, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.
They included an agreement between Qatar and India on mutual exemption of entry visas for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports and a protocol for technical cooperation in cyberspace and fight against cybercrime between the Qatari Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Home Affairs of India.
A Letter of Intent between Qatar and India, a MoU between Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and another MoU between Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani) and Indian Ports Global (IPG) were also signed.
Civil aviation identified as priority sector to enhance cooperation
Quoting a source at the Indian government, the Indo- Asian News Service reported that the two leaders discussed cooperation in various sectors and acknowledged that the current level of trade and investment was much below potential.
"Prime Minister Modi highlighted the tremendous opportunities available for Qatari investment in India's infrastructure and energy sectors," the source was quoted as saying.
The two leaders also identified civil aviation as a priority sector for enhancing cooperation, reported the agency.
On his part, the Qatari Prime Minister invited India's participation in infrastructure and investment opportunities coming up ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
He also welcomed Indian investment in the port sector of Qatar. "On energy cooperation, Prime Minister Modi said that we should go beyond the buyer-seller relationship to include joint ventures, joint research and development and joint exploration," the source said.
The two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in defence and security, cyber security in particular, and agreed on joint action to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing.
According to a statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, both sides agreed to increase the level of participation in infrastructure development projects on either side and undertook to exchange information on available investment opportunities in a regular and timely manner.
"It was agreed to expedite steps to put in place the necessary framework so that economic actors on both sides can take full advantage of the opportunities available, particularly in the area of infrastructure, special economic zones, civil aviation, energy, petrochemicals, health and pharmaceuticals, information technology, education, tourism and agriculture," the statement said.
"The two sides resolved to work closely to combat terrorism and radicalisation and noted the importance of consolidating the values of tolerance and preventing the spread of sectarianism, It added.
H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and India's Interior Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation attended a luncheon banquet hosted by the Indian Premier in their honour.
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