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India and Qatar ink 7 agreements; to share intel on hawala, terror financing

PTI | By, Doha
Jun 05, 2016 09:21 PM IST

Official talks were held between India and Qatar for multi-sectoral partnership and strengthening of bilateral ties following which the agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed on the second day of the Indian PM’s visit.

India and Qatar on Sunday agreed to share intelligence to combat ‘hawala’ transactions and terror financing as the two countries signed seven agreements and decided to move beyond the trading relationship and get into strategic investments.

Doha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani with signing of agreements at a ceremony at Emiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar on Sunday, June 5, 2016.(PTI)
Doha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani with signing of agreements at a ceremony at Emiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar on Sunday, June 5, 2016.(PTI)

The two sides highlighted the need to “isolate” the sponsors and supporters of terrorism and agreed that urgent action against all such entities, which support terrorism and use it as an instrument of policy, must be taken.

At the end of wide-ranging talks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit, had with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Qatari leadership, the two sides decided to constitute an inter-ministerial high-level joint committee to regularly review all bilateral matters, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.

“Crucial agreements were signed today, which will give new strength to India-Qatar ties,” said Modi.

“Sheikh Tamim and I had wide ranging talks on how India and Qatar can further expand bilateral ties,” he tweeted.

An MoU was signed between the Finance Intelligence Unit -India (FIU) and Qatar Financial Information Unit to share intelligence on illegal movement of money, termed as ‘hawala’.

“The two sides further agreed to take action against illegal transfer of money,” a joint statement issued after the talks said.

There is a lot of money flow and investment from Qatar. A number of black money investigations have taken Indian authorities to Qatar’s shores and such an MoU is seen as a move to help combat money offences.

Under this pact, the two sides also agreed to exchange financial intelligence to combat terrorism financing and other economic offences.

Read: Will take up problems faced by Indian workers in Qatar: PM Modi

Briefing reporters, secretary (economic relations) Amar Sinha said: “They (Qatari side) also realise that terror does pose a threat to both of us and to our region.

“Both the sides felt that time has come that we need to move beyond the trading relationship and get into strategic investments.”

Strongly condemning the phenomenon of international terrorism, Modi and the Emir resolved to cooperate together to root out this global menace.

They asserted that acts of violence, terrorism and extremism cannot be justified under any circumstances, regardless of their motivation, in all their forms and manifestations.

The two sides also underlined the need to “disrupt terrorist movements, stopping all sources for financing of terrorism and countering terrorist propaganda through internet”.

Read | India is land of opportunities, take advantage of it: Modi in Qatar

An MoU was also signed between Qatar Investment Authority and External Affairs Ministry for investment in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund between the two countries that would facilitate foreign investment from the gas-rich Gulf state.

Sinha said it involves establishing a framework for promoting Qatari investment in India including in asset reconstruction in public sector undertakings whose assets are in distress and getting FDI into them.

Cooperation and investment in areas of skill development and education, health, tourism and sports between the two countries were the other agreements signed by Indian and Qatari officials in the presence of Modi and Sheikh Tamim. An agreement was also signed between the two countries on cooperation and mutual assistance in custom matters besides an MoU on cooperation in tourism.

The MoU on customs matters included resolving the issues of under-invoicing and over-invoicing as well as money laundering issues, Sinha said.

Modi and Sheikh Tamim held detailed talks here on a wide range of issues with an intent to give a push to India-Qatar ties.

Qatar is an important trading partner for India in the Gulf region with bilateral trade in 2014-15 standing at $15.67 billion. It is also one of India’s key sources of crude oil.

Read: I am used to the noise of democracy, Modi says in Afghanistan

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