New Delhi: India and Qatar are set to strengthen their economic and trade ties with the India-Qatar Joint Business Forum, scheduled for 18 February 2025 in New Delhi. The forum will be organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. It will convene top business leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to explore investment opportunities, technological collaboration, and economic partnerships.

The event takes place on the sidelines of the visit of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, to India from 17-18 February 2025. The business forum will be attended by key figures, including the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Qatar and the Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, who will deliver keynote addresses. The high-level Qatari delegation includes leading enterprises from sectors such as energy, infrastructure, finance, technology, food security, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.

The forum will feature three panel discussions focusing on investment as a means to build a long-term strategic partnership between India and Qatar, cooperating in logistics, advanced manufacturing, and food security, and promoting cooperation in futuristic areas like AI, innovation, and sustainability. These discussions will provide Indian and Qatari businesses with the opportunity to explore joint ventures, foreign direct investment (FDI), technology partnerships, and policy-driven collaborations.

India and Qatar enjoy a strong economic partnership, with bilateral trade expanding across multiple sectors. Qatari firms have invested in India’s technology, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors, while Indian companies have established a significant presence in Qatar. The forum will highlight strategic investment opportunities aligned with initiatives such as Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s infrastructure growth. Key investment areas include logistics, warehousing, ports, airports, railways, highways, semiconductors, food security, technology and innovation, space, biosciences, banking and fintech, smart cities, pharmaceuticals, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. Additionally, the India-Qatar Startup Bridge is promoting innovation-driven partnerships in AI, fintech, and deep tech, further strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.

As India emerges as a global hub for manufacturing, technology, and entrepreneurship, this forum will serve as an important platform to enhance business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-business (G2B) engagements. It aims to deepen industry collaboration, facilitate FDI and joint ventures, promote technology transfer, and strengthen trade through policy reforms and strategic agreements.

The forum reflects the shared vision of India and Qatar for long-term economic cooperation and promotes their commitment to advancing trade, investment, and innovation across key sectors.

BI Bureau