Qatar's emir attends India's President dinner banquet

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the dinner banquet hosted by HE the President of India Pranab Mukherjee at the Presidential Palace on Honor of His Highness and the accompanying delegation.
At the outset of the function, President Mukherjee greeted HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation, stressing that the two countries have strong historical relations and expressing confident that the visit of HH the Emir will contribute to strengthening the relations between them, as well as to deepening the existing commercial exchange and partnership.
"Our two countries have deep and rich connections based on geographic proximity and cultural commonalities," President Mukherjee said adding " Our civilization link find expression in our mutually beneficial, growing economic and commercial exchanges and close people-to-people contacts. There is a lot that we can do together to realize the existing potentials in our trade and investment ties".
He said that India deeply values Qatar as a reliable source of energy, stressing that it is time to convert the two countries' commercial synergies into a deeper partnership through India-Qatar joint ventures. "Qatar has generously embraced a large numbers of Indian expatriates and has encouraged them to flourish and proper, for which we thank you'" he added.
HH the Emir, in turn, expressed thanks and appreciation to President Mukherjee and the Indian people for the hospitality and warm reception, expressing pleasure for carrying this visit, which confirms His Highness's keenness on promoting the historic relations between the two countries.
HH the Emir also expressed satisfaction at the growth witnessed by the close relations between the two countries in various fields, especially in the volume of trade and the areas of energy, culture, education and health, asserting confidence that these relations will continue to develop and thrive, especially after the signing of more cooperation agreements between the two countries, and after the important economic reforms carried out by the esteemed Indian government, which led to the improvement of the investment environment in India, and that would contribute to the activation of the cooperation between the two countries and lay the foundations for a strategic partnership between the two countries for the welfare of the two peoples.
HH the Emir expressed appreciation for the role of the Indian community in Qatar and their contribution to the development process of the country and its economic development.
His Highness also asserted his keenness to support the strong relations between the two countries as well as of Qatar's commitment to secure India's energy needs, noting in this regard to the interest in enhancing the cooperation opportunities and increasing investments in India, especially in infrastructure, industrial development, energy and other fields for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani concluded his speech wishing further progress and prosperity for India's President and people.
The dinner banquet was attended by India's Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi besides a number of ministers, senior officials and businessmen.