Energy cooperation top on agenda as PM Modi to hold talks with Qatar counterpart

Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, who arrive here yesterday on a two-day official visit, will today hold talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

Both sides are expected to sign agreements in various fields after the meeting to be held at the Hyderabad House here.

"Will hold talks with Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani today," tweeted Prime Minister Modi.

This is the first visit of Sheikh Abdullah to India and the third high-level bilateral engagement between the two countries in the past two years, which underlines India's growing ties with Qatar.

With Qatar being the largest supplier of LNG to India, the two leaders are also likely to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the strategic area of energy.

India's close and friendly relations with Qatar are based on mutually beneficial commercial exchanges and extensive people-to-people contacts. Qatar is not only an important trading partner for India in the Gulf region, but is also the largest supplier of LNG to the country, accounting for 66 per cent of our total imports in 2015-16.

Indians form the largest expatriate community in Qatar and their positive contribution in the progress and development of their host country is well recognised. There are over 6,30,000 Indian nationals working in Qatar.