Dr. S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister , conducted an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on June 23rd, marking his second visit in his current term. This trip follows a recent meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy.
During his visit, Dr. Jaishankar held discussions with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders reviewed the extensive India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, expressing satisfaction with the frequent high-level engagements and the significant progress in various sectors including commerce, economic collaboration, fintech, education, culture, and people-to-people connections. They also explored new areas for potential cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues.
In Abu Dhabi, Dr. Jaishankar participated in the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the Louvre Museum, an event organized by the Embassy of India at Abudhabi in collaboration with Louvre Abu Dhabi. The event saw participation from various nationalities, highlighting the global appeal of yoga. Dr. Jaishankar also visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2024. He expressed his appreciation for the Mandir, noting that it has become a significant cultural landmark in the UAE, attracting up to 60,000 tourists daily and reaching one million visitors in less than four months.
This visit underscores the importance India places on its relationship with the UAE. Within the last year, there has been a series of high-level interactions between the two nations. Since July 2023, Prime Minister Modi has visited the UAE three times, while President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has visited India twice. Significant milestones in the past year include the implementation of a local currency trade settlement agreement, the launch of UAE’s domestic credit/debit card based on India’s RuPay card system, the establishment of an IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi, and collaborative efforts in fintech. Bilateral trade between the two countries has also seen substantial growth, reaching $84 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Vinod Kumar (UAE)
