Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, paid an official visit to Doha, Qatar, to co-chair the India–Qatar Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial Cooperation with H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry.This was the first meeting of the upgraded Joint Commission, following the decision during the visit of the Amir of Qatar to India in February 2025 to elevate the earlier Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce. The visit reaffirmed the two nations’ strong commitment to advancing bilateral economic engagement and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.During the meeting, both Ministers:Reviewed bilateral trade valued at over USD 14 billion (Rs 1.17 trillion) in 2024–25 and discussed measures to further diversify trade in goods and services.Set a shared goal of doubling bilateral trade by 2030, with a focus on energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, finance, technology, and green growth.Agreed to expedite the finalisation of the Terms of Reference (ToR) to begin formal negotiations for the India–Qatar Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).Noted Qatar’s USD 10 billion (Rs 835 billion) investment commitment made during the Amir’s state visit, highlighting both sides’ intent to unlock new opportunities for mutual investment.Emphasised enhanced cooperation in key areas such as the digital economy, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, culture, and environmental sustainability.On the sidelines, Shri Goyal held high-level bilateral meetings with Qatari dignitaries and business leaders to explore partnerships in food security, trade finance, project collaborations, and infrastructure investments.He also addressed the inaugural meeting of the India–Qatar Joint Business Council (JBC), attended by representatives from FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, and the Qatar Chamber, and later interacted with members of the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA). Shri Goyal underscored India’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing major economies and a global hub for innovation, manufacturing, and technology under the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.In a landmark step towards digital collaboration, Shri Goyal launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) service in Qatar, enabling seamless digital transactions for Indian expatriates and local users.The Minister also met members of the Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC), the Doha Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), and the broader Indian community in Qatar, commending their role in strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two nations.The visit concluded with both countries reaffirming their shared vision for a resilient, diversified, and forward-looking partnership built on mutual trust, energy cooperation, technological collaboration, and strong people-to-people ties.