India, Qatar identify local currency trade, customs cooperation as focus areas

New Delhi: India and Qatar have agreed to expeditiously address all impending bilateral trade issues and have identified gems and jewellery, cooperation between customs authorities and trade in local currency among areas of focus, commerce and industry ministry said Friday, after representatives from the two sides reviewed recent developments in a Joint Working Group meeting in Doha this week.

Both sides identified several areas of focus for enhancing both bilateral trade as well as mutually beneficial cooperation sectors.

“These include gems and jewellery, cooperation between customs authorities, trade in local currency, pharmaceuticals, food processing and food security, cooperation in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” the ministry said in a statement.


The meeting was held in Doha on July 10.

Bilateral trade between India and Qatar was $14.08 billion in 2023-24. India is the second largest trading partner to Qatar. Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the JWG in 2025, in New Delhi.

They reviewed the progress of ongoing discussions for Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) on Food Safety and Cooperation in exchange of pre-arrival information for facilitation of trade and customs control on goods and agreed to conclude them expeditiously.

Both sides discussed the possible mechanism to activate the Joint Business Council to carry out its assigned role in following up and implementing the private sector’s visions and proposals for trade and investment cooperation, according to the statement.