Draft ToR for Qatar trade pact, in process to secure internal nod for Oman FTA: Govt

New Delhi: India has shared draft terms of reference (ToR) for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Qatar, incorporating comments on Qatar’s earlier version, the commerce and industry ministry said Wednesday.

“The ToR has been substantially finalized, and both sides are actively engaged in discussions,” the ministry said in its year end report, adding that a draft cabinet note for signing and ratification for a trade pact with Oman was circulated and both sides are now in the process of securing internal approvals.

The ToR sets the framework and scope for the upcoming FTA negotiations.


The ministry also said India and Israel have been negotiating an FTA since 2010, completing ten rounds covering 280 tariff lines or product categories.

Although both sides agreed in October 2021 to relaunch the negotiations, progress stalled due to Israel's reluctance to provide the meaningful services market access sought by India, particularly regarding the temporary movement of IT professionals and highly skilled workers.

“Negotiations have since been revived, and in November 2025, India and Israel signed the Terms of Reference for the proposed FTA, paving the way for the formal resumption of discussions,” it said.

Further, it said the India-Maldives FTA ToR for a trade pact were signed on July 3, 2025, in Male.

Negotiations have been launched for the agreement.

India and Qatar, too, are finalising a ToR to launch talks for a free trade pact.

A similar exercise is also underway between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).