India’s Ambassador to Qatar Sanjiv Arora has told Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Secretary General Hassan al-Thawadi that his country supports the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on a wide range of issues including the SC’s workers’ welfare standards and initiatives.
The ambassador was accompanied on his visit this week by the defence attache at the Indian embassy, Captain R. Ravi Kumar, who is also the embassy officer in charge of sports.
The ambassador briefed al-Thawadi that India will work bilaterally with the SC on workers’ welfare, with both sides agreeing to explore avenues of partnership for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Construction, information technology and security services were identified as the three main areas of cooperation and both sides agreed to explore possibilities of signing a memorandum of understanding charting the roadmap for strategic partnerships.
"Qatar will have the support of not only its Indian expatriate population for World Cup 2022 but of 1.2bn Indians back home," Arora said.
The ambassador told www.sc.qa: "India has great admiration for the strides Qatar has made in multiple spheres including the commendable work done by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy in preparing for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Hosting the 2002 WC is a very important development for Qatar and the region. India is very happy for Qatar and supports the tournament.
"The ties between India and Qatar go back centuries. There is a large, diverse, accomplished and highly regarded Indian community in Qatar, who are active in many spheres including the construction of public as well as FIFA World Cup-related infrastructure.
"The significant contribution of Indian nationals, especially our workers, to the growth and progress of Qatar, including the FIFA WC, is well recognised by Qatar. WC 2022 would be a very significant occasion for all of them.
"Ensuring the well-being and welfare of the Indian community is the embassy’s foremost priority. We appreciate the support and cooperation of the authorities concerned in Qatar in this context. It is imperative for all stakeholders to give highest priority to the welfare of workers.
"Next year, India will be hosting our own first FIFA event, the Under17 WC, and this gives another opportunity for closer football cooperation between the two countries till 2022 and beyond."