Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani's visit - Agreements between India and Qatar

Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani's visit - Agreements between India and Qatar

Question: Recently, India signed an agreement with Forum of Federations based in Canada. Discuss the agreements between India and Qatar following the visit of its Emir to India.

Visiting Emir of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani recently held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the outcome was a total of 6 agreements which are as follows:

Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons

• As per this agreement, Indian prisoners who have been convicted in Qatar will be taken to India to serve the remainder of their sentence here and vice versa

• This agreement will help sentenced persons to be located near their families and help in social rehabilitation

MoU for Cooperation in the field of ICT/ Information and Communication Technology

• This memorandum of understanding aims to provide growing business opportunities for the IT industry from India in Qatar.

• The Qatari have proposed a massive programme for overall development as part of Qatar 2030 vision and a dedicated Ministry of ICT for capacity building

MoU between Ministry of Earth sciences and Qatar Meteorological Department for Scientific and Technical cooperation

• Qatar Meteorological Department under the aegis of the Civil Aviation Authority will be cooperating with the IMD/Indian Meteorological Department in the sphere of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences

• Scientific partnership between India and Qatar will lead to enhanced atmospheric and oceanic capacity in both nations

MoU between Diplomatic Institute of MOFA, Qatar and Foreign Service Institute, MEA

• This MoU enables exchange of trainees, faculty, students and experts between Qatar and India to enhance skills and improve training

• Foreign Service Institute, MEA has signed an MoU with nations for training diplomats
MoU for cooperation in the field of Radio and TV

• MoU proposes regular exchange of radio and TV programmes and material between the two companies: Prasar Bharati of India and Qatar Media Corporation

Agreement for Mutual Cooperation and Exchange of News
• Agreement between Qatari News Agency and United News of India has been formed for encouraging the development of bilateral cooperation in the exchange of English language news free of charge on an everyday basis

Facts and Stats

• Former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, had visited the nation in 1999, 2005 and 2012.

• Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh visited Qatar in 2008 in the month of November

• Currently, 600,000 Indian nationals work in Qatar

• Indians are the largest expat community in Qatar

• Qatar is the biggest importer of Indian LNG at 86%

• Bilateral trade between the two nations is pegged at USD 16 billion