Overview
- Government sources say the Terms of Reference for an India–Qatar trade pact are likely to be completed early next month.
- If the timeline holds, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal may travel to Doha in the first week of October to accelerate negotiations.
- The Terms of Reference will set the scope, chapters and negotiating procedures required before detailed market‑access talks can begin.
- Bilateral commerce is tilted toward Indian imports dominated by natural gas and other petroleum products, underscoring energy’s central role in the relationship.
- The push fits into India’s broader FTA agenda, with a UAE pact in place, an Oman deal nearing completion, EU talks in their 13th round and new Terms of Reference signed with the Eurasian Economic Union.