Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

The UAE and India commenced their discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement  with  Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, meeting Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, to outline how the two nations can accelerate bilateral trade, investment and economic opportunity.

 Dr Al Zeyoudi also held productive talks with Jyotiraditya Scindiam, Minister of Civil Aviation,  Ashwini Vaishnaw, Honourable Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, and Nirmala Sitharaman,  Minister of Finance, where the potential for deepening ties in investment, technology and aviation were discussed.

 The UAE delegation arrived in India on September 21 for a four-day visit to the Indian capital New Delhi, as the two sides seek ways to strengthen their economic ties through a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The talks mark the beginning of a new era of strategic cooperation between the two countries, which it is hoped will broaden economic and investment opportunities and push bilateral trade beyond US$100 billion in five years.

 In the discussions with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister  Goyal, Dr. Al Zeyoudi restated the UAE’s belief that expanding trade expands opportunity, stability and prosperity, and that closer ties between the UAE and India’s economies can offer fresh impetus to the global recovery.

 Dr. Al Zeyoudi also reiterated the UAE’s recent “Projects of the 50” initiative, which seeks to further enhance the country’s advantageous regulatory environment, attract global talent and accelerate the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies into manufacturing, healthcare, smart services logistics and renewable energy – all of which provide areas of collaboration, investment and mutual benefit that can be unlocked through the CEPA.

In talks with  Scindiam, India’s Minister of Civil Aviation,  Dr Al Zeyoudi outlined the importance of the sector to both India and the UAE and highlighted the potential for greater connectivity between the two nations, which can have a multiplier effect for trade and tourism. The pair discussed the potential for increasing seat capacity for UAE carriers flying from India during the forthcoming Expo, as well as expanding the number of airports offering direct services to the UAE.

The possibilities of how the CEPA can create new opportunities in the ICT and telecommunications industries were discussed in the meeting with H.E. Vaishnaw, India’s Honourable Minister of Electronics and Information Technology. The talks brought forward the possibilities of knowledge transfer, 5G capabilities and greater foreign direct investment.

In the final meeting of the day, Dr Al Zeyoudi met with India’s Finance Minister  Sitharaman to explore how the CEPA can expand on the strength and depth of the economic and commercial engagement between the UAE and India. Of particular note was UAE’s growing fintech sector, which expected to increase by 20 percent per year over the next five years, and reach the market value of $305bln by 2025. The potential of India’s fintech sector is also promising, which is currently valued at US$31bn and expected to grow to US$84bn by 2025.

 Speaking on his arrival in New Delhi on Tuesday, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi said that the CEPA should be seen as a natural extension of the long-standing relationship between the two countries. “The CEPA builds on our historic ties by laying the foundation for a mutually beneficial partnership that creates new jobs, promotes foreign direct investment, empowers entrepreneurs, attracts talent and accelerates our knowledge-driven economies – and it will drive economic growth and prosperity across the region.”

 Meanwhile, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Deputy Chairman of Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) Board of Directors, has applauded the management of the UAE Federal export credit company for its substantial contributions to the UAE economy and the growth of local exporters and re-exporters.

This came during the 3rd Board of Directors meeting for 2021 at ECI’s branch in Dubai, presided over by Dr. Al Zeyoudi.

The Deputy Chairman also commended the organisation’s exceptional business performance in the first eight months of 2021 and its strong resolve to support UAE businesses and boost their competitiveness in regional and international markets.

During the meeting, the Board of Directors reviewed ECI’s performance for the first eight months of 2021, as well as discussed other topics listed in the agenda, including a joint project that aims to position ECI as the main gateway of exporters and re-exporters to trade credit and financial solutions provided by all participating entities, including Emirates Development Bank (EDB), Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) and ECI.