India and Qatar Agree to Accelerate Bilateral Investment Treaty and FTA Talks in Doha

30 September 2026National

India and Qatar agreed on 30 September 2026 to accelerate negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Free Trade Agreement, in talks held in Doha on the sidelines of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's 2026 Annual Meeting. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the FTA process is being accelerated, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised the need for normal trade flows and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar reiterated a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India and plans a Qatar Investment Authority office there. Bilateral trade stands at USD 14.15 billion, with a stated aim of doubling it by 2030.

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The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is headquartered in Beijing and began operations in January 2016 | The Qatar Investment Authority is Qatar's sovereign wealth fund; Qatar's capital is Doha and its currency the Qatari Riyal | The Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world's most important oil transit chokepoints

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