India, Qatar sign agreement on transfer of sentenced nationals

India and Qatar on Wednesday signed an agreement for the transfer of sentenced persons between the two nations. Under this agreement, Indian prisoners convicted in Qatar can be deported to India to serve their sentence, and vice versa.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Qatari counterpart Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah signed the agreement on behalf of New Delhi and Doha.

One more agreement and four memorandums of understanding were also signed by the two leaders: an agreement for mutual cooperation and exchange of news, signed between Qatari News Agency and United News Agency to enhance and develop bilateral cooperation in the exchange of English-language news; an MoU for cooperation in information and communication technology, aiming to provide enhanced business opportunities for the Indian IT industry in Qatar; an MoU between the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Qatar Meteorological Department for scientific and technical cooperation in the atmospheric and ocean sciences; an MoU between the Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of External Affairs and the Diplomatic Institute of the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would help in exchange of trainees, students, faculty members and experts between India and Qatar to enhance their skills and improve the training programme in both the countries; and an MoU for cooperation in radio and television, which will look to encourage a regular exchange of programmes and material between Prasar Bharati and the Qatar Media Cooperation.

Earlier in the day, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, who is on a two-day visit to India, was accorded a ceremonial reception and a Guard of Honour at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Prior to the Emir's arrival, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that India and Qatar will look to increase commercial and economic exchanges, with special focus on the 'Make in India' initiative as well as the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by Qatar.