India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will represent the country at the inauguration of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on November 20, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Dhankhar will be visiting Qatar on November 20-21 at the invitation of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.
After attending the opening ceremony of the World Cup, he will interact with the Indian diaspora in Qatar. The Ministry said that India-Qatar relations are strong in the fields of trade, energy, security, health, culture, education and defence. In the last financial year, bilateral trade crossed USD 15 billion.
Qatar plays an important partner in India’s energy security and India participates in Qatar’s food security. Next year, both countries would be celebrating 50 years of the establishment of full diplomatic relations.
Vice President’s visit would be an opportunity to join a close and friendly country Qatar as it hosts a major sporting event and also to acknowledge the role played and support extended by Indians in this World Cup.
The football extravaganza will begin on November 20 and will go on till December 18. In the first match, the Ecuadorian team will clash with the host team, Qatar.
