UAE-India ties witnessing continuous momentum: Mazrouei

Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said that the Republic of India is a key partner for the UAE, as the two countries are bound by strong ties that are enhanced by shared values and mutual interests.

The two countries have always been keen to continue their cooperation in various fields, especially energy, infrastructure, transportation, and logistics, he added.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the occasion of the visit of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India to the UAE, Al Mazrouei said that the visit has an important value for both sides due to its role in supporting the shared visions and strategies, enhancing harmony in positions, and achieving sustainable development in various sectors.

He also emphasised that the visit contributes to strengthening the UAE-India relations to new and promising horizons.

The UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure affirmed that the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the UAE is an extension of the historical relations and high-level mutual visits, the last of which was the visit of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India last January, during which His Highness discussed with the Indian Prime Minister the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance and broaden them, especially at the development level.

He explained that India is an important country for the UAE and that developing relations with it is a priority. It is also one of the UAE’s largest partners in the world, as the Indian companies are among the largest investors in the oil and gas sector in the UAE, while the UAE is the fifth-largest supplier of crude oil to India, accounting for 8 percent.

In support of the efforts of the two countries and to enhance their cooperation in the field of renewable energy, Al Mazrouei explained that the UAE and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2022 aimed at exploring ways to combat climate change through a partnership between the public and private sectors to develop the deployment of renewable energy solutions, green hydrogen, and carbon markets, and to raise the level of efficiency in the agricultural sector and sustainable financing.

He also pointed out that the bilateral relations between the two countries has great support from the leadership of the two countries and reflect a shared vision to expand and diversify the umbrella of the comprehensive strategic partnership to achieve sustainable development, to include new sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and transportation.

He drew attention that bilateral relations between the two countries are witnessing a momentum through the exchange of high-level visits.]]>

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, praised the strategic partnership between the UAE and India, which constitutes a model of bilateral relations aimed at achieving sustainable development and common interests.

He said that the UAE-India strategic partnership across various fields, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEPA), was only made possible by the unlimited support of the leaderships of the two countries.

In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the occasion of the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UAE, Al Zeyoudi noted that this visit is of particular importance as it coincides with the two countries celebrating the second anniversary of the signing of the CEPA on 18th February 2022.

The agreement, which entered into force on 1st May of the same year, has significantly contributed to facilitating the flow of trade and investment between the two sides, and has helped to raise the level of cooperation and partnership to broader levels, he added.

Al Zeyoudi emphasised that India is the UAE’s second-largest trading partner globally, according to 2022 data, with non-oil trade between the two countries reaching US$51.4 billion, a growth of 15 percent compared to 2021 and more than 24 percent compared to 2019, with a share of 8.3 percent of the UAE’s total international non-oil trade. India is also the world’s leading destination for the UAE’s non-oil exports, with a share of 11 percent of the country’s total exports.

He added, “During the 17 months from the start of implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and India on 1st May 2022, to the end of September 2023, non-oil trade between the two countries increased by 2.5 percnet compared to the corresponding period of 2021/2022, and by 42.4 percent compared to the same period of 2020/2021, and by 54.8 percent compared to the same period of 2019/2020.”

Non-oil trade between the two countries reached $38.1 billion in the first nine months of 2023, the same figure recorded in the same period of 2022, Al Zeyoudi stated. “The main commodities exchanged between the two sides have diversified, especially UAE exports, to include gold, jewellery, plastics, cement, petroleum oils and dates, which have achieved significant growth after benefiting from the provisions of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.”

Al Zeyoudi explained that 7.4 percent of India’s international imports come from the UAE, which ranks second globally after China. India also exports 6.9 percent of its international exports are received by the UAE, which ranks second for Indian exports after the United States. The UAE is also India’s third-largest trading partner globally, with a 7.2 percent share of its non-oil foreign trade, and the first Arab country with a share exceeding one-third of India’s trade with Arab countries, he added.

The Minister of State for Foreign Trade stated that the value of the UAE’s direct investments in India reached about $17 billion by the end of September 2023, making it the seventh-largest investor in India globally and the first Arab country with a 3 percent share of total foreign direct investment.

Indian investments in the UAE reached $8 billion, ranking second globally with a 6 percent share of total foreign direct investment into the country. Thus, the value of the UAE-India mutual investments is $25 billion, 70 percent of which is from the UAE to India, Al Zeyoudi further said.

WAM