Nirmala Sitharaman urges Qatari businesses to invest in India

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with representatives of the Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA) in Doha to encourage increased trade and investment partnerships between the two nations. During the roundtable, Sitharaman highlighted India’s robust economic performance, noting a real GDP growth rate of 7.8 percent in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 and an 11.9 percent increase in investment.

Sitharaman also noted that Japan Credit Rating (JCR) upgraded India’s long-term rating from ‘BBB+’ to ‘A-’, signaling confidence in the country’s structural economic reforms. Additionally, India recorded its highest annual gross Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow of $94.53 billion in fiscal year 2026, the highest in 15 years.

In separate discussions, Sitharaman met with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Said. Dr. Al-Said identified significant opportunities for Qatari investment in Indian infrastructure, including ports, airports, highways, and power. Conversely, Indian companies were encouraged to explore sectors in Qatar such as food security, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, education, healthcare, and startups. The discussions emphasized elevating bilateral ties to a ‘strategic partnership’ level.