Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is on a two-day visit to Doha, Qatar, from October 6–7, 2025, to attend the Qatar-India Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce. The meeting, co-chaired by Qatar’s Commerce and Industry Minister, H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, highlights India’s commitment to strengthening its trade and investment partnership with Qatar, one of its key Gulf partners, with bilateral trade surpassing USD 14 billion in 2024–25.
This is Goyal’s first official visit to Qatar, and he is accompanied by senior officials from multiple ministries. The discussions are expected to review bilateral trade performance, address trade and non-tariff barriers, and explore new avenues to boost investment and business cooperation.
A major focus of the meeting will be the proposed India–Qatar Free Trade Agreement and the finalization of the Terms of Reference for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to expand economic collaboration between the two nations. In addition, cooperation across sectors such as finance, agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and culture will also be discussed to strengthen the multifaceted relationship.
A high-level business delegation is accompanying the Minister for the first meeting of the India–Qatar Joint Business Council. The delegation will engage with key Qatari institutions including the Qatar Chamber, Qatar Financial Centre, Invest Qatar, and the Qatar Free Zones Authority to enhance trade and investment linkages.
During the visit, Goyal will also meet with prominent Qatari dignitaries, leading business figures, and representatives of Indian organizations in Qatar, including the Doha Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC).
The visit follows the first meeting of the India–Qatar Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce held in July 2024 and builds on the outcomes of the Amir of Qatar’s visit to India in February 2025. Both nations have identified trade as a key pillar of their bilateral cooperation, upgrading the Joint Working Group to a Joint Commission led by their respective Commerce Ministers.
