UAE Foreign Minister to lead delegation to India on 26 June

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Abdullah to lead UAE delegation to India

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) A high-level delegation from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, will visit Indian capital on June 26-27, Indian Ambassador to the UAE MK Lokesh told Khaleej Times on Wednesday.

India and UAE share good relations in all spheres for centuries and will discuss, during the visit, ways of advancing these ties in trade, commerce, tourism, aviation and other global affairs.The UAE delegation will reach New Delhi on June 26 and Shaikh Abdullah will hold official meetings on June 27, the ambassador said. Shaikh Abdullah visited India in 2009, he said.

Shaikh Abdullah will be accompanied by assistant ministers from the MoFA and other senior officials, as well as several business leaders and CEOs of key companies in the areas of shipping, aviation, telecommunication and energy, the ambassador said in a statement to Khaleej Times. The minister will hold discussions with the Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna as well as senior Indian leaders including the Prime Minister of India on bilateral and international issues, the ambassador said.

He said the visit comes at a time when new global challenges are emerging and both the countries have common interests in their early resolution. India recognizes and appreciates the growing role of the UAE in regional and global affairs and its initiatives in maritime security, peace-keeping operations and regional peace initiatives as well as in other areas like global governance, environment, and renewable energy issues, he said. The visit will provide a valuable opportunity to further cement the warm and friendly relations that exist between the two countries, Lokesh said. The ambassador said India and the UAE have close relations based on historic foundations. Currently, India and UAE are the largest trading partners with a bilateral trade amounting to around $44 billion in 2009-2010 and substantial investments growing from both sides. In addition, the UAE is an important supplier of crude oil to "¨India.

 

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Mangalorean.Com- UAE backs India for UNSC seat, to enhance investment

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates Monday declared full support for India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council as the two countries decided to expand their political, economic and energy ties.

The two sides also signed an agreement to hold political consultations on international and regional affairs, a move that is expected to build on their robust bilateral relations.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who touched down here on a day-long visit Sunday, discussed a host of bilateral, regional and global issues. Sheikh Abdullah also called on Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

India and the UAE, home to over 1.5 million Indian diaspora, discussed an array of bilateral and international issues, including the global economic recovery, UN reforms and counter-terror cooperation. At the end of the talks, the two sides signed a pact on political consultations and decided to step up mutual investment in each other's country. The UAE plans to appoint a joint Task Force to increase trade and investment with India.

The two sides also decided to increase co-operation in technology transfer and research and development in areas related to space, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and bio-technology.

The UAE expressed its desire to enhance investment in key sectors of Indian economy like power, oil and gas and tourism. "We already have some investment here. But we are looking forward to increasing our presence in various sectors like power, oil and gas and tourism," Khalid Ghanem Al Ghaith, assistant minister for economic affairs, told reporters on the sidelines of a business summit here.

According to Ghaith, the trade and investment opportunities between both the countries were enormous and had to be tapped. "There is an enormous opportunity for trade and investment here. A lot more has to be done to tap this potential," he said. Indian industry on its part also showed keen interest in increasing their presence in the UAE.

"Industries should meet more and interact. There is a huge potential for trade and investment on both the sides," said Atul Punj, chairman, Punj Lloyd.

Meanwhile, UAE electricity utility TAQA said that it was looking for investment opportunities in south India's power sector. "We are looking for investment opportunities in the power sector in southern India region," said Abdullah Bin Saif Al Nuaimi, director general, TAQA.

The two sides were also exploring possibilities of setting up industrial complexes in the Gulf as well as in India and third countries to cater to the markets worldwide.

Bilateral trade between India and the UAE was at $43.46 billion in 2009-10.

 

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gulfnews : UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah holds talks on enhancing trade and economic ties with Delhi

New Delhi: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, yesterday met senior Indian leaders and discussed a number of issues of common interest.

He called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon in New Delhi on Monday, during a 24-hour visit to India.

During the meetings, Shaikh Abdullah discussed a number of issues of common interest, especially the ways and means to enhance trade and economic exchanges.

India and the UAE were expected to sign agreements aimed at enhancing trade, investment, economic and energy ties late last night.

Hunt for opportunities

Accompanied by top corporate leaders and senior officials from the UAE Foreign Ministry, Shaikh Abdullah was on a mission to look for opportunities particularly in the areas of shipping, aviation, telecommunications and energy.

He held wide-ranging talks with Singh and Ansari on the intensification of trade and investment levels, global finance and energy security.

According to highly placed sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, "the two sides discussed cooperation in technology transfer, research and development in areas related to space, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and bio-technology."

"Also the two sides are exploring possibilities of setting up industrial complexes in the Gulf, as well as in India and third countries to cater to markets worldwide," they added.

The UAE Foreign Minister was also scheduled to hold meetings with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna later last night.

Bilateral relations

It was expected that the two leaders would discuss key bilateral relations, apart from signing several agreements. India and UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of manpower sourcing in December 2006 and are likely to renew it now.

After Shaikh Abdullah's visit, the UAE's Ministry of Labour and India's Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs are likely to work more closely in order to evolve a new arrangement to make the system of recruitment and contracting more transparent.

India enjoys close and multi-faceted relations with the UAE, which is one of its largest trade partners.

Both countries share historic cultural ties and are making sincere efforts to cultivate regular cultural exchanges both at official and popular levels.

During 2009-2010, trade between India and the UAE touched $43 billion (Dh157.9 billion).

Expatriate community

Indians also comprise the largest single expatriate community in the UAE.

According to the Foreign Ministry statement issued on Monday: "India and the UAE enjoy strong bonds of friendship which are founded on millennia-old cultural, religious and economic exchange between the two regions."

Cooperation

The UAE is eager to keep all channels of communication and cooperation open with India, especially in the cultural, humanitarian and economic field.

A limited edition book by former Consul-General in Dubai Venu Rajamony explores the strong ties between India and the UAE.

"It is through these [cultural, humanitarian and economic] fields that we build good political relations with other countries — based on mutual interests, respect and constructive cooperation," Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, says in the book.

 

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