Piyush Goyal in Qatar Urges Businesses to Harness Make in India and Startup India Initiatives

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, while in Doha, Qatar, urged Indian enterprises to fully capitalize on the opportunities presented by key national initiatives such as “Make in India” and “Startup India” to deepen economic ties between India and Qatar.

In a post on social media platform X, Goyal said he had a “fruitful interaction” with the Indian business delegation in Doha. He encouraged them to unlock the full potential of India-Qatar economic relations by leveraging transformative programmes focused on manufacturing, innovation, and entrepreneurship. According to him, such efforts would help foster “shared prosperity” between the two nations. 

Goyal also addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in Qatar, praising their significant contribution in strengthening bilateral links. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant and prosperous India — part of the broader goal of achieving Viksit Bharat 2047. He urged the Indian community to explore new channels of collaboration and work toward robust business and cultural bridges between India and Qatar.

During his visit, the minister officially launched India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the Lulu Hypermarket in Doha. He described the rollout as a “game-changer” for digital connectivity and seamless payments, underlining India’s commitment to enhancing cross-border commerce and furthering its Digital India mission.

Under the new arrangement, UPI will become functional on Qatar National Bank point-of-sale terminals at major marketplaces across the country. This move is expected to greatly benefit Indian travellers and strengthen trade and tourism links between India and Qatar. 

Goyal’s push to fully deploy Make in India and Startup India aims not only to boost bilateral economic engagement but also to channel investment into Indian manufacturing and innovation ecosystems. By doing so, he envisions a mutually beneficial relationship with Qatar, rooted in trade, technology, and entrepreneurship.

In sum, Goyal’s visit combined high-level diplomacy with concrete actions: advocating for strategic programmes, engaging the diaspora, and enabling digital payment infrastructure abroad. These steps serve to deepen India’s economic footprint, promote its self-reliance goals, and strengthen international partnerships in the lead up to India’s development goals for 2047.