Sitharaman and Qatari Finance Minister discuss extending UPI across Qatar

29 September 2026

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met her Qatari counterpart Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari in Doha on 29 September 2026, on the sidelines of the AIIB annual meeting.
The two ministers discussed expanding India's UPI payment system across Qatar and strengthening financial cooperation.
They took up the implementation of Qatar's $10 billion investment commitment to India and greater engagement with the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.
Finalisation of the Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement was also discussed.
Sitharaman noted that recent high-level engagements had elevated India-Qatar relations to a strategic partnership.