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EAM Jaishankar’s Visit to UAE: Strengthening India-UAE Bilateral Ties

4 minutes read

EAM Jaishankar’s Visit to UAE: Strengthening India-UAE Bilateral Ties

4 minutes read

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for an official visit focused on enhancing the strong bilateral ties between the two countries. The Consulate General of India in Dubai announced his arrival on social media platform X, emphasizing the visit’s goal to strengthen cooperation between India and the UAE. “External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in the UAE for an official visit. Looking forward to further strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation between our nations,” the Consulate General of India posted.

India and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 1972. The UAE opened its Embassy in India that same year, while India opened its Embassy in the UAE in 1973. Since then, both countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic and economic relations. These ties have deepened through cooperation with the United Nations and participation in multiple plurilateral platforms such as BRICS, I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA), and the UAE-France-India Trilateral. The UAE was also invited as a guest country to the G20 Summit held under India’s presidency.

The bilateral relationship gained significant momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to the UAE in 2015, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the emirate state in 34 years. This visit marked the beginning of a Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership between the two nations. Since then, Modi has visited the UAE several times, most recently in late 2023 to attend the COP28-World Climate Action Summit in Dubai. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in 2022 during a virtual summit between PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been a cornerstone of this partnership, boosting trade and investment significantly.

During his visit, Jaishankar spoke at the inauguration of the Symbiosis International (Deemed University) campus in Dubai. He highlighted how the relationship between India and the UAE has reached new heights, particularly in trade and investment, since PM Modi’s visit in 2015. “India-UAE ties are today truly in an era of new milestones and many firsts. Indeed, Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit in 2015 is certainly a first in this century. So too is our Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which was negotiated in record time. The trade and investment levels between our countries are at new levels and increasing with each passing year,” Jaishankar said. He noted significant fintech linkages such as RuPay-Jaywan and UPI-AANE as unique collaborations between the two nations.

The minister emphasized expanding cooperation across diverse sectors, including renewable energy, infrastructure, digital technology, defence, and security. These collaborations are seen as transformative, contributing to the growing partnership between India and the UAE. Jaishankar stressed the importance of educational initiatives and their role in preparing Indian youth for global challenges. The new Symbiosis campus in Dubai represents a larger trend of closer educational and cultural ties between the two countries. He noted, “Today’s youth has extraordinary opportunities and along with it, formidable challenges. You have access to technology and exposure to the world that we could not have conceived of, even a decade ago.” Jaishankar encouraged the students to prepare for future global workplaces that will demand skills in AI, electric mobility, green technologies, and renewable energy.

Following the inauguration, Jaishankar visited the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai, where he launched his book titled ‘Why Bharat Matters.’ The launch event included an interactive session in which he discussed the ongoing global transformation driven by technology, green energy, and shifts in lifestyle due to electric mobility. The minister emphasized understanding these changes and India’s role in the new global order. He further visited the Bharat Mart site in Jebel Ali, Dubai, alongside Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World. The Bharat Mart is expected to enhance trade between India and the UAE, particularly benefiting Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by strengthening supply chains and access to global markets.

Jaishankar’s visit also included a stop at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, which he described as a “symbol of peace, harmony, and goodwill.” This visit underscored the cultural and religious bonds that further cement the friendship between the two nations. On social media, he wrote, “Received blessings at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi today. A true symbol of India-UAE friendship and of peace, harmony and goodwill around the world.”

Jaishankar highlighted the long-standing diplomatic and economic relationship between India and the UAE, which has flourished over the past decades. During the visit, he reiterated the importance of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and noted its impact on increasing trade and investment flows. The minister also acknowledged the innovative fintech collaborations and joint efforts in sectors like infrastructure and defence as examples of the deepening strategic partnership. He concluded his engagements by emphasizing the importance of educational exchange, economic cooperation, and cultural ties that continue to bring India and the UAE closer together.

Jaishankar’s visit to the UAE follows his previous visit in June, underscoring the frequency of high-level engagements between the two countries. As India and the UAE continue to align their interests on international platforms and bilateral fronts, this visit is seen as a significant step towards further solidifying their strategic partnership, which has both regional and global implications.

 

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