India, UAE explore ways to enhance Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

India and UAE Forge Closer Ties: Foreign Secretary Holds Key Talks in New Delhi

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra’s strategic rendezvous with Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in the bustling corridors of New Delhi marked a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The deliberations between Kwatra and Al Hashimy, conducted against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving global landscape, underscored the shared commitment to fortify the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership binding India and the UAE. With meticulous attention to detail, the esteemed diplomats meticulously scrutinized the myriad facets of bilateral relations, exploring avenues to bolster cooperation across diverse sectors.

A comprehensive overview of the multifaceted bilateral ties was succinctly encapsulated in a communique disseminated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, affirmed, “Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra met Mos (International Cooperation) @mofauae Reem Al Hashimy in New Delhi today. They reviewed the entire gamut of our multi-faceted bilateral relations, and discussed avenues to further deepen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

In parallel, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered profound insights into the evolving perception of India within the UAE during his address at the South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce — Corporate Summit 2024 in Surat. Jaishankar underscored, “In the last 10 years, the perception about India has changed in the UAE. They signed a free trade agreement with us and today the trade with the UAE has reached about 80 billion dollars.”

Additionally, Jaishankar emphasized pivotal milestones in bilateral engagements, particularly highlighting the monumental acceptance of India’s plea to erect a temple in the UAE. This symbolic gesture epitomizes the burgeoning cultural affinities between the two nations. Jaishankar emphasized, “Our request to build a temple there has been accepted… PM Narendra Modi went to UAE in 2016 and the last PM to go to the UAE was Indira Gandhi and after her, no PM went there till 2016.”

A landmark event in the cultural narrative of bilateral relations was the grand inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, marking a historic juncture. The auspicious occasion witnessed the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside the UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, underscoring the shared commitment to fostering interfaith harmony and understanding.

In the realm of economic cooperation, the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022 stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment to elevate bilateral trade relations to unprecedented heights. Facilitated through a virtual summit meeting between PM Modi and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the CEPA aims to catapult merchandise trade between India and the UAE to USD 100 billion over the ensuing five years, thus heralding a new era of economic collaboration and prosperity.