Abu Dhabi-India business forum deepens trade, investment ties

The Abu Dhabi-India business forum, co-organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) in cooperation with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) underscored the scale and momentum of the partnership and discussed ways to deepen trade and investment ties.

The forum, attended by Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of ADDED, and senior government and private-sector leaders, is building on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement’s (CEPA) achievements to further enhance relations in various sectors.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi said, “We are pleased to welcome Piyush Goyal, Honourable Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of India, and the high-level delegation to open a new page in our deeply rooted partnership. Abu Dhabi is a trusted, future-ready partner for India’s growth story, with our ‘Falcon Economy’ creating ample opportunities in high-growth clusters including food, Agrictech, financial services, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, smart transport, sustainable energy, and healthcare.’’

Al Zaabi added, “Today, India is one of our largest trading partners. Since signing CEPA in 2022, Abu Dhabi’s non-oil trade with India is growing from strength to strength. In 2023, it rose by 13.7% and soared 94% in 2024. We are building on a legacy of collaboration to shape a future of shared prosperity, and there is enormous scope to deepen our trade, expand mutual investments, and co-create the industries of the future.’’

The Abu Dhabi-India business forum served as suitable platform to match opportunity with capability. India’s push to scale electronics, automotive and EVs, batteries, and pharmaceuticals dovetails with Abu Dhabi’s industrial strategy, while India’s quarter-trillion-dollar tech and business-services industry and the Global Capability Centres complement the emirate’s strengths. Emerging trade corridors are lowering frictions and shortening time-to-market for firms on both sides.

The programme featured presentations by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Invest India, and companies from Abu Dhabi and India. Discussions focused on converting opportunities into projects with a view to onboard SMEs into supply chain. Participants agreed to maintain a structured follow-up cadence after the forum to turn commercial interest into deal flow and job creation.

Backed by CEPA, bilateral trade between the UAE and India is fast approaching the $100 billion target set for 2030. In 2024, UAE’s non-oil trade with India grew by 20.5% to exceed Dhs240 billion ($65.4b) in 2024, compared to Dhs199.3 billion ($54.3b) in 2023. In H1-2025, the strong growth continues with non-oil trade rising 33.9% to Dhs138 billion ($37.6 billion). UAE’s investments in India reached over Dhs84.4 billion ($23 billion) in 2024, making the UAE India’s seventh-largest global investor.

With Abu Dhabi’s globally connected infrastructure, pro-investment ecosystem, and strategic roadmaps, and India’s market scale, reform momentum and technological reach, the forum showcased a corridor where companies can innovate and invest with confidence.

Few days earlier, Dubai Chambers met a delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to explore opportunities for developing joint cooperation, strengthening bilateral economic relations, and advancing the partnership between the business communities in Dubai and India across key sectors of mutual interest. The meeting was attended by Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, and Rajiv Memani, President of the Confederation of Indian Industry, together with representatives from Indian companies operating across diverse industries. The discussions highlighted opportunities to diversify trade exchange between Dubai and India, in addition to Dubai’s vital role as a hub for Indian companies seeking expansion into new regional and global markets.

The meeting also addressed plans to organise a series of events in several Indian cities to further strengthen business relations.

The visit by the CII delegation underlines Dubai’s strengthening position as a preferred destination for Indian investors and entrepreneurs. During H1 2025, Indian businesses once again accounted for the largest share of new non-UAE companies joining the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, with 9,038 new members. This marks a notable increase of 14.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. In April this year, Dubai Chambers signed a MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry to enhance bilateral trade and investments and support mutual economic growth.

WAM