NEW DELHI: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are working more closely together, especially in energy and defense. They held important talks on Friday about long-term agreements for energy supplies, joint projects, and investments in oil and gas reserves.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan led the discussions. Jaishankar described the India-UAE partnership as a “model relationship.” He highlighted that trade between the two countries has grown steadily and reached an impressive level of $85 billion since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) kicked in last May.
They also talked about expanding cooperation in new energy areas, including nuclear energy and green hydrogen. Jaishankar noted that there are now several long-term contracts for oil and gas.
Furthermore, Jaishankar mentioned exciting new projects like Bharat Mart, a virtual trade corridor, and a special system called MAITRI to ease international trade. They aim to increase non-oil trade to $100 billion.
On the defense side, both countries have seen increased collaboration, including military exercises and a forum for defense industries. Jaishankar said their joint efforts contribute to regional stability and security.
He also thanked the UAE for treating the large Indian community (around 3.89 million people) well. Both sides agreed to meet more often to resolve any consular issues and improve skills and workforce collaboration.
Recently, India opened an IIT campus in Abu Dhabi, and they are also working on opening campuses of the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Dubai. They are focusing on improving partnerships in education, research, technology, and several other important areas like space, healthcare, and food security
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