A trade agreement was signed between India and UAE in the year 2022 (Photo: PTI)
Jaiprakash Ranjan, New Delhi. United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spent a little more than three hours with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, but in this short period, both the leaders ushered in a new era of bilateral relations between India and the UAE. During this, talks took place before signing the strategic defense agreement between India and UAE.
A target was set to double the bilateral trade to cross $200 billion by the year 2032. UAE's investment in setting up an international airport, aircraft repair facility and opening a training center for pilots at Dholera (Gujarat) was finalised. Besides, a long-term agreement for purchasing LNG was signed to deepen energy cooperation. A total of a dozen MoUs have been signed or agreed upon on related issues.
Strategic relations between UAE and India
The UAE and India have strategic relations. Besides, there are personal relations between the two leaders. Prime Minister Modi himself arrived at the New Delhi International Airport to receive the UAE President and brought him with him in the same car to the Prime Minister's residence, where a long conversation took place between the two leaders. The situation in Iran, the US initiative to establish peace in Gaza and the situation in Yemen were also discussed between the two leaders. Sheikh Mohammed has visited India at a time when there is tension between UAE and Saudi Arabia regarding Yemen.
India has strategic relations with both countries. In such a situation, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, 'There is no plan to get involved in hypothetical developments in West Asia while moving towards a strategic defense cooperation agreement between India and UAE. Our engagement with the UAE in the defense and security sector does not necessarily mean that we will get involved in regional conflicts in any particular way. Defense cooperation between India and UAE is quite extensive.
The way for UAE investment is clear
A trade agreement was signed between India and UAE in the year 2022. This has helped in increasing bilateral trade and now it has been agreed to double it by the year 2032. UAE had talked about making a new investment of 100 billion dollars in India six years ago. In Monday's meeting, the way seems to be cleared for UAE investment in the Dholera industrial city being developed by the Gujarat government. The Foreign Secretary said that there has been an agreement to invest in many areas including building an international airport and urban development with the UAE's investment.
Similarly, on Monday, an agreement was signed between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil, under which five lakh metric tons of LNG will be supplied to India for the next ten years from the year 2028. The second consensus in the energy sector has been reached in the field of nuclear energy. Given the opportunity provided by the Peace Act recently passed in the Indian Parliament, India and UAE will cooperate in setting up small and large nuclear power plants. An important agreement has been signed between the two countries regarding cooperation in the space sector, under which everything from manufacturing of rockets to construction of their launching sites, training centers etc. will be established.
A major agreement has been signed in the food sector under which the export of rice, food products and agricultural products from India to UAE will be promoted. This will directly benefit Indian farmers. An agreement has been made in principle between the two countries on a project which includes the establishment of a cultural venue named 'House of India' in Abu Dhabi. The place will be equipped with a museum of Indian art, heritage and archaeology, among other facilities. The two leaders directed their respective sides to explore the possibility of setting up a 'Digital Embassy' between India and the UAE under mutually recognized sovereign systems. This is a new thinking.
Carved swing from Gujarat presented to the President
Prime Minister Modi presented traditional Indian gifts to the UAE President, which are symbolic of India's rich cultural heritage. Prominent among these is the hand-carved royal wooden swing (jhula) of Gujarat which is considered a symbol of unity, conversation and bonding between generations in Gujarati families. The gift is also deeply linked to the UAE's declaration of 2026 as the 'Year of the Family'.
Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak Al Khetbi of UAE was also presented a pashmina shawl from Kashmir. It has been presented in a decorative silver box made in Telangana. He was also presented with Kashmiri saffron (in a decorative silver box), which is famous for its intense aroma. These gifts highlight the handicrafts, handlooms and cultural heritage of India.
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