India, Qatar Eye Possibility of Bilateral Free Trade Pact

The countries have also agreed to double bilateral trade to $28 billion over the next five years

- PTI

India and Qatar on Tuesday agreed to double bilateral trade to $28 billion over the next five years and announced elevation of their relationship to the level of strategic partnership as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The two sides also signed two agreements—one on establishing strategic partnership and another on Revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and signed five memoranda of understanding to strengthen economic partnership, step up ties in areas such as management of archives, and cooperation in youth affairs and sports.

"The strategic partnership agreement actually elevates the present state of bilateral relationship to a strategic level. What we are looking at is deepening cooperation in fields of trade, energy security, as well as in regional and international fora," Arun Kumar Chatterjee, secretary, ministry of external affairs, told reporters here.