In a follow-up of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), its Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan will be in New Delhi on Thursday.
While Al-Nahyan will primarily attend the meeting of the India-UAE Joint Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, sources said the two sides will also hold discussions covering the entire gamut of relationship. The focus will be on trade and investment but issues relating to defence, security and space will also be discussed.
Some forward movement is also expected on the commitments made by the two sides during PM Modi’s visit to UAE recently, with regard to counter-terrorism, particularly information sharing and capacity building. In this connection, control and regulation of funds that could have a bearing on radicalization activities and terror activities will also be touched upon. Besides, the UAE is expected to seek India’s expertise in launching its Mars mission.
Since Al-Nahyan’s 83-member delegation includes business and industry captains and it is expected that an investment plan will be worked out to scale up economic and strategic cooperation between the two sides.
UAE plans to invest `4.5 lakh crore in India in defence manufacturing, urban development and other sectors. This is the highest FDI offer to India so far. India is UAE’s second largest trade partner and the UAE is India’s third largest trade partner. Also, UAE remains the top nation that sends highest remittances to India.