President Droupadi Murmu welcomed Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, hosting a banquet in his honor and reaffirming the strong historical ties between India and Qatar.

During their discussions, President Murmu highlighted the deep-rooted commercial and cultural connections between the two nations, emphasizing their cooperation in trade, investment, food security, health, culture, and energy. She stressed the need to expand collaboration in innovation, technology, and startups.

Both leaders agreed to elevate India-Qatar relations to a Strategic Partnership, setting the stage for enhanced engagement in key sectors. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani formalized this agreement at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, covering areas such as trade, energy, investments, technology, and cultural exchange.

Additionally, an agreement was signed to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion on income taxes, further strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

In a special diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Modi personally received the Amir at the Air Force Station in Palam on Monday evening. “Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of Qatar H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow,” Modi posted on X.

The Amir expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated Qatar’s commitment to deepening economic and diplomatic ties with India, calling it one of Qatar’s most important economic partners.