Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Qatar after concluding his activities in the UAE. (Source: Barrons)

At a press conference on February 12, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda in Qatar includes meetings with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other senior officials.

Taking place after the Prime Minister concluded his activities in the United Arab Emirates (February 13-14), the visit marks the first time Mr. Modi has been to Qatar since 2016.

According to Mr. Kwatra, the relationship between India and Qatar is “steadily growing”, covering many areas, including political relations, trade and investment links, a strong energy partnership and cooperation in the fields of culture, education and security. Qatar is a major investor in India and bilateral trade stands at around $20 billion.

The announcement of the Indian prime minister's visit coincided with Qatar's release of eight former Indian naval officers who were sentenced to death by a Qatari court in 2023 on espionage charges. They worked for Dahra Global, a Doha-based defense services company.

“We appreciate the decision of the government of Qatar and the Emir. We are happy that seven Indians have returned, the eighth has also been released and we continue to work with the government of Qatar for his speedy return to India,” Kwatra said.

The Foreign Secretary said Prime Minister Modi was “personally monitoring all developments” in the case.

The Indian leader met the Emir of Qatar in December 2023 on the sidelines of the COP28 climate change summit in Dubai, UAE. Soon after, the death penalty for the former naval officers was abolished.

Qatar, a key supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India, recently signed a $78 billion extension of its 25-year deal with India's Petronet LNG to continue supplying LNG until 2048.

Home to an Indian community of around 840,000, Qatar holds an important place for India.