On Thursday, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed discussed strategies to enhance bilateral trade and strengthen supply chain resilience amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. The current bilateral trade between India and Qatar is approximately $14 billion, with both nations aiming to double this figure by 2030. They are also considering a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to further solidify their economic ties. The recent conflict involving the US and Israel's actions against Iran has severely impacted cargo ship movements in international waters, complicating trade dynamics in the Gulf region. India’s overall bilateral trade with Gulf countries reached $178 billion in 2024-25, comprising $56.87 billion in exports and $121.67 billion in imports. Goyal has also held discussions with trade ministers from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait, as India seeks to negotiate a free trade agreement with the GCC.