The MoS for External Affairs will also participate in Labour Day celebrations with the blue-collar workers from India in Qatar

Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, V. Muraleedharan will pay his three-day maiden visit to Qatar from Sunday.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, during the visit, MoS Muraleedharan will hold discussions with his counterpart Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Hassan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim, Speaker of the Shura Council and other Qatari dignitaries.

The MoS will also meet a wide cross-section of the Indian community in Qatar, including those working in areas of community welfare, business, health, culture, education, engineering, accountancy and Indian veterans.

The Indian community will host a reception and a cultural event to mark Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav during the visit of MoS, the Ministry said.

The visit of the MoS for External Affairs would add to the momentum of the multifaceted bilateral cooperation.

Both countries share excellent bilateral relations ranging across - political, economic, defence, cultural and educational fields, which have further strengthened in the past few years. The leadership of both countries has maintained close contact during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Qatar is home to over 700,000 Indians. The bilateral trade crossed $15 billion in FY 2021-22 and Qatar’s investments into India have increased five folds over the past two years.

Both countries will be celebrating the golden jubilee of the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 2023.