After the talks, the two sides signed seven MoUs, including one on sharing of information between Financial Intelligence Units for sharing of intelligence on illegal movement of money, termed as “hawala”.
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The two countries also issued a joint statement in which both sides agreed to address the menace of global terrorism through a comprehensive approach to stop flow of foreign terrorists, dismantle terrorist infrastructures and counter-terror propaganda through internet, among other things.
At talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the two sides also agreed to further enhance high-level political exchanges, defence and security cooperation, trade and economic relations and people-to-people exchanges.
This is Mr Modi’s first visit to Qatar and first by an Indian Prime Minister in the past eight years.
He will also visit Switzerland, Mexico and the United States.
Though Qatar was the largest source of LNG for India, both sides felt that the time has come to move beyond the trading relationship and get into strategic investments, he said. The two sides further agreed to take action against illegal transfer of money.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led delegation-level talks with the Qatari leadrship, as well as holding restricted meetings with Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatar Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
“The two leaders highlighted the need to isolate the sponsors and supporters of terrorism and agreed that urgent action against all such entities, which support terrorism and use it as an instrument of policy, must be taken”, the statement said.
The two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean regions, vital for the security and prosperity of both countries.
A third MoU calls for Cooperation in tourism between the two countries.
Strongly condemning the phenomenon of worldwide terrorism, Modi and the Emir resolved to cooperate together to root out this global menace.
The Indian diaspora of over 6,30,000 Indians comprise the largest expatriate community in Qatar and are engaged in a wide spectrum of professions, including medicine; engineering; education, finance; banking; business; media and labour.
Under this pact, the two sides also agreed to exchange financial intelligence to combat thawala and other economic offences.
Another MoU was signed on cooperation between India and Qatar in the field of health. Inviting investments from Qatar’s companies, he said that India is a “land of opportunities and they should grab it”.
Several agreements in various fields including skill development, investment, tourism, sports and youth affairs will be signed.
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“Global agencies agree that if there’s a fastest growing economy, it is India”, he said while addressing a huge audience gathering of expat Indians in Doha. The meeting between the two leaders is the second in a span of weeks.
