India, Qatar agree to accelerate FTA, bilateral investment treaty talks

India and Qatar have agreed to accelerate negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), while also advancing Qatar’s USD 10 billion investment commitment and plans to establish a Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) office in India.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held discussions with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, on the sidelines of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) 2026 Annual Meeting in Doha.The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties. Qatar highlighted investment opportunities in India’s ports, airports, highways and power sectors, according to agency reports.Opportunities for Indian companies in Qatar were also discussed across sectors such as food security, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, education, healthcare and start-ups.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the discussions also covered implementation of Qatar’s USD 10 billion investment commitment and the establishment of a QIA office in India.
Both sides expressed interest in completing the BIT and agreed to accelerate engagement on the pact, along with negotiations for an FTA.Sitharaman also stressed the need to restore normal trade between India, Qatar and other Gulf countries, including through unimpeded maritime navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman addressed the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Business Roundtable in Doha, Qatar, today.

The Indian side highlighted India’s strong structural growth momentum, with Real GDP growth accelerating to 7.8% in the… pic.twitter.com/72W16eowKy

— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) September 29, 2026

Separately, Sitharaman addressed the Qatari Businessmen Association Business Roundtable in Doha, where India highlighted its economic growth and investment opportunities.The Ministry said India’s real GDP growth accelerated to 7.8% in the first quarter of FY26, while investment grew 11.9%.It also highlighted Japan Credit Rating’s recent upgrade of India’s long-term issuer rating from BBB+ to A-, citing confidence in the country’s ongoing structural reforms.India recorded its highest-ever annual gross FDI inflow of USD 94.53 billion in FY26, the highest in 15 years, the Ministry said.Sitharaman encouraged Qatari businesses to explore trade and investment partnerships with India to further strengthen bilateral economic ties.

(Business Correspondent)