India, whose bilateral trade with Qatar stood at $10bn in 2015-16, expects the level to be almost same in 2016-17 but said it is “below potential”, hence requiring more proactive steps to enhance the economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries.
Indian envoy P Kumaran said this on Thursday at a function where Qatar Chamber, an influential industry and trade body, offered its support to place New Delhi’s ‘Make in India’ into a higher international orbit, with it agreeing to be the co-organiser of a unique standalone expo of Indian products ‘Indiana’ at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre from March 16 to 21.
Qatar Chamber secretary general Saleh Hamad al-Sharqi said the exhibition would pave way for many successful business deals.
The trade between Qatar and India (which follows April-March financial year) stood at $10bn with $9bn of imports from Qatar and $1bn of imports from India, is “clearly below potential”, given that the Asian country is the third largest trading partner of Doha, Kumaran said, adding in 2014-15, the trade level was QR14bn.
Asked about 2016-17, whose figures are yet to be compiled, he said “it is going to be roughly the same” but there is more scope for balance of trade to improve between the countries; considering that India, which currently use 5% of gas to meet energy requirements, plans to double it by 2020.
Stressing that exhibitions such as Indiana would go long way in supporting the country’s mission of stronger bilateral trade and economic relations, he said impending expo seeks to bring together 200 leading manufacturers from India.
On Qatar Chamber’s role in Indiana – organised by Indian Business and Professionals Network in association with the Indian Embassy, Kumaran said “the fact that the chamber gets in and promotes the event among Qatari businesses gives it a bilateral shape.”
Originally planned for four days, the exhibition, which will run now for a week, comprise a mix of B2C (business to consumer) and B2B (business to business), where manufacturers from India across various verticals ranging from fabrics, to fashion to electronics, arts, crafts, spices, inventions, properties and engineering technology, will showcase their latest discoveries.
Kumaran said the initial aim is to enhance exports from India to Qatar but the exhibition could also witness establishing joint ventures between India and Qatar Inc.
A recent Qatar Financial Centre study had said Indian companies have invested about $450mn in Qatar, creating 2,000 jobs.
Indian companies from across sectors as infrastructure, banking, insurance, information technology and consulting have been present in Qatar and among them are Larsen and Toubro, Voltas, Shapoorji Pallonji, ONGC Videsh, TCS, SBI and ICICI Bank.
IBPN General Secretary Sumit Malhotra said it had been in touch with all the trade bodies as Confederation of Indian Industry, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Federation of Indian Exports Organisation to ensure more participation from India.

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