New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday left for his maiden visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. He will become the first Indian Prime Minister to do so in 34 years.
The two-day visit is aimed to enhance cooperation in energy and trade and Modi is expected to hardsell India as an attractive business destination. Modi's trip is being seen as an opportunity to boost India-UAE ties in key areas of trade and security.
Modi, ahead of his visit, described UAE as a "valued partner". This fact, he said, was reflected in India being UAE's second largest trading partner, while the Arabian nation comprising seven Sheikhdoms was the third largest trading partner for the country.
The Prime Minister also lauded the immense contribution made by over 2.5 million Indians, who have made UAE their home, and said he was looking forward to meeting the large diaspora.
They remit more than $13 billion annually. The 2.6 million-strong Indian community constitutes nearly 30 per cent of UAE's population.
Modi will on Monday address the Indian diaspora at the Dubai Cricket Stadium and the event will be attended by 30,000 people. "There is unparalleled excitement ahead of PM Modi's visit. People are coming from Doha, Muscat, Oman, Bahrain to see the PM. We are hoping that something positive will come out of Modi's visit," said BR Shetty, an organiser of the event.
Abu Dhabi will be the first port of call for the Prime Minister, who will hold extensive talks on Monday with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
UAE, with a sovereign wealth fund of more than $800 billion, was very important from investment point of view and the Prime Minister is expected to impress upon the country to invest in infrastructure sector in India.
Security is another potential area of cooperation between India and UAE, which have treaties and agreements on extradition, mutual legal assistance in criminal and civil matters, combating trafficking in narcotics, and information cooperation apart from maritime interaction.
The two are expected to discuss ways to further enhance cooperation in these areas.
Apart from talks with the Crown Prince, Modi will visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a key place of worship and a masterpiece of Islamic architecture here. Constructed between 1996 and 2007, the mosque can accommodate around 40,000 people.
After visiting the mosque, the Prime Minister will fly to Dubai on August 17, where a hectic schedule would await him during a short stay of a few hours. In Dubai, he will meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, visit world's tallest building Burj Khalifa and address the Indian community at Dubai Cricket Ground.
Modi will also travel to Masdar City, a zero carbon and hi-tech city wedded to the concept of cleaner and greener tomorrow.
Economic and commercial cooperation is a key aspect of overall bilateral relationship between the two countries. The traditionally close and friendly India-UAE ties have evolved into a significant partnership in the economic and commercial sphere.
Indians have emerged as important investors within the UAE and India as a major export destination for goods manufactured there. India-UAE trade, valued at $180 million per annum in the 1970s, has gone up to around $60 billion. India's major imports from UAE include petroleum and petroleum products, precious metals, stones, gems and jewellery, minerals and chemicals.
The two countries have been cooperating in the defence sector too. The first meeting of Joint Committee on Security Matters had taken place here in March, 2013. With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation in 2003, a Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) was established. The JDCC provides a platform for regular exchange of dialogue in the defence sector.
(With additional information from PTI)
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