The Hindu

Doha, Mar 20: The Indian Navy has offered to train naval personnel of Qatar, while seeking to expand technical, military and manpower cooperation with the Gulf state.

"We have offered our training facilities to Qatar. In the past, a few naval personnel have been trained in India," Vice Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi, Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief of India's Western Naval Command, who is in Doha as part of the first Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX), said.

Last August, five Indian ships visited Qatar as part of regular port calls.

Presently, the Indian Navy is holding talks with the Gulf state to promote technical, military and manpower cooperation.

The senior Naval officer said India has centuries-old maritime relations with Qatar and the Gulf region.

Qatar's naval chief took part in the recent Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, held in New Delhi, along with heads of 26 other Navies from around the world.

Besides, the Indian Navy will be producing and exporting warships in two years, Bedi said.

At present, the capacity of the three state-owned shipyards is enough to meet Indian demand, but the capacity is being enhanced.

In two years, the shipyards will have the capacity to export warships and mercantile vessels, he said.