Senior government officials, diplomats and business leaders from the UAE and India gathered in Dubai for a high-level forum hosted by the UAE India Business Council – UAE Chapter, reaffirming the strength of one of the world’s fastest-growing bilateral economic partnerships.
The event, titled “Strength in Resilience,” focused on advancing cooperation under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, and the shared ambition of reaching 200 billion US dollars in bilateral trade. It was attended by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Dr. Deepak Mittal, and India’s Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates Satish Kumar Sivan, alongside senior trade and industry representatives.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi said non-oil trade between the two countries exceeded 76 billion US dollars last year – a growth of 17 percent despite global trade headwinds. He noted the UAE is connected to more than 400 cities, ports and logistics hubs worldwide, and said CEPA opens opportunities not just for bilateral trade but for companies seeking access to global markets. He also pointed to Africa as a key area for deeper UAE-India cooperation in investments, logistics and supply chains.
Indian Ambassador Dr. Deepak Mittal echoed that view, mentiond that the depth of the bilateral relatioship reflects the strength of ties between the two leaderships, with frequent high-level exchanges deepening cooperation across trade, energy, infrastructure and connectivity – while opening new frontiers in defence, space, nuclear energy, green technology and critical minerals. He noted that bilateral trade crossing $100 billion positions the UAE among India’s most significant global partners, and said CEPA, signed in 2022, followed by the Bilateral Investment Treaty in 2024, are together driving the push toward the 200-billion-dollar target by 2032.
The evening also marked a leadership transition within the council. Outgoing chair Faizal Kottikollon said the UAE-India partnership stands today as one of the world’s most dynamic bilateral relationships. Nilesh Ved was announced as incoming chair, with Adeeb Ahamed taking over as co-chair. Ved said the council would continue to serve as a bridge for innovation, investment and next-generation partnerships between the two nations.
The council also unveiled new research initiatives covering tourism, education, consumer markets, investment opportunities in Africa, and CEPA implementation for small and medium-sized enterprises. The event concluded with a cultural tribute featuring performances of both national anthems by the youth ensemble Malhaar.
