Qatar Emir, Cuban VP to visit India

The Emir of Qatar will arrive here on a two-day visit on Tuesday during which India will seek the Gulf nation's help to secure the release of 39 Indians kidnapped by ISIS militants in Iraq besides exploring ways to enhance trade ties.
India will also host Vice President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel who will arrive here on Monday on a three-day trip here during which he will meet the top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukhrerjee.
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, top officials and businessmen.

Qatar supplies 86 per cent of India's Liquified natural Gas (LNG) and is an important partner in the Gulf region. The bilateral annual trade is around USD 16 billion.
Thani will have meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in restricted format as well as at the delegation level. He will also meet Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said India will seek help in knowing the whereabouts of the Indian hostages, kidnapped in Iraqi town of Musul in June last year by ISIS, and also securing their release.

"We utilise every opportunity to try and seek information about the whereabouts of those whose whereabouts are right now not known," he said.

The MEA spokesperson said India was willing to approach every friendly country which may have some influence or the ability to assist it in the matter.
He said discussion will focus on investment opportunities for Qatar in India as well as possible scope for Indian companies for construction activities in that country as it will host the World Cup football in 2022.
He said both sides will sign a several pacts during the Emir's visit. Around 600,000 Indians are working in Qatar and they act as a catalyst for enhanced ties across the spectrum of bilateral relations.

About the visit of the Cuban Vice President, the Spokesperson said discussions are likely to focus on enancing cooperation in sectors like healthcare and biotechnology.
This will be the first high-level interaction between Cuba and the Modi government.