Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed with a ceremonial guard of honour upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi to kick off his five-nation tour. Scheduled to engage in discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the talks will encompass crucial areas of collaboration such as trade, investment, energy security, and people-to-people relations. Notably, UAE F16 jets escorted PM Modi’s aircraft upon entering the UAE airspace, marking a significant gesture of welcome.
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that the visit aims to bolster the substantial trade and investment ties between India and the UAE. Energy security emerges as a focal point during PM Modi’s visit, with the likelihood of finalizing two key Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) concerning LPG and strategic petroleum reserves. India views the UAE as its third-largest trade partner and the seventh-largest source of investment over the past 25 years, underlining the importance of this visit.
During a media briefing, the Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized the agenda of deepening bilateral relations across various sectors like trade, investment, energy, technology, and culture. The discussions between the leaders will prioritize enhancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening energy security, a crucial aspect of the relationship between the two nations. The visit also presents an opportunity to address the welfare of the significant Indian community residing in the UAE, which numbers over 4.5 million.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s official visit to India in January and the subsequent visit by Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in February for the AI Impact Summit underscore the growing engagement between the two countries at the leadership level.
