NEW DELHI, 15 April 2005 — India and gas-rich Qatar discussed stepping up cooperation in the energy sector during meeting between Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here yesterday.
Sheikh Hamad’s talks with Manmohan particularly focused on stepping up cooperation in the energy sector. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest. The Indian side included Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamad.
India, which is heavily dependent on imported fuel, is keenly interested in increasing cooperation in the energy sector with Qatar and boosting other trade.
“We look forward to deepening the cooperation between Qatar and India in the fields of oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, steel industry and other strategic industries,” the emir said.
Qatar, which boasts the world third’s largest gas reserves, has agreed to deliver 7.5 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually to India. The first shipments arrived at the start of last year in western Gujarat state, which is to take five million tons.
Talks are under way between Qatar’s state-run Rasgas and Petronet for a second phase covering 2.5 million tons a year to the southern state of Kerala.
India and Qatar signed a bilateral air services agreement to increase flight frequency between the two countries.
The accord was signed by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Qatar Finance Minister Yousef Hussain Kamal in the presence of Manmohan and the emir.
