Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
Advani's visit to strengthen ties with Qatar
Monday, 20 January 2003, 20:30 IST
DOHA: India's Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani will call on the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and hold talks with his senior ministers during his two-day visit here.
This is the first ministerial visit from India to the Gulf nation since that of then minister of state for external affairs Vasundhara Raje in 1998.
Besides calling on the emir, Advani will hold talks with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Khaliefa Al- Thani, Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasem bin jaber Al-Thani and Energy and Industry Minister Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah.
Indian officials said the visit, January 20-22, aims to further strengthen the close ties between India and Qatar. Apart from close political ties, India-Qatar relations have been marked by growing economic interaction in recent years.
India's imports from Qatar, which have increased steadily to $144.69 million in 2000 from $125.96 million in 1997, is expected to take a quantum jump as it is set to emerge as a major buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from that country.
Qatar has the third largest gas reserves in the world and is poised to emerge as a significant international supplier of energy for many decades to come.
The government of Qatar has made large investments in the development of its two LNG projects and the port at Ras Laffan to cater to exports.
With its growing requirements of natural gas, India is naturally keen to make Qatar as a reliable and virtually inexhaustible source of natural gas because of its close proximity.
India has not been a major customer for Qatari hydrocarbons till now and its imports consisted largely of urea, ammonia, sulphur, ethylene and polyethylene.
India has substantial dealings with the Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO) and the Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO).
Advani, who will be accompanied by senior officials, will also attend a reception in Doha, where he will meet members of the local Indian community.
He leaves for a two-day visit to Paris on Wednesday.
This is Advani's second visit to the Gulf region, but first as deputy prime minister. He had visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in July 2001 during which he met top UAE leaders.
Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran visited Qatar in June 2000 to attend the World Trade Organisation conference.
Then external affairs minister Jaswant Singh, who is finance minister now, had to put off a scheduled to visit to Qatar in October 2000 due to the Middle East crisis.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS