In Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in comprehensive discussions with UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. They reviewed their strategic partnership, explored new areas of collaboration, and witnessed the signing of several agreements, notably a bilateral investment treaty.
In a special gesture of warmth, President Mohamed bin Zayed personally greeted and embraced Prime Minister Modi at the airport, followed by a guard of honor ceremony.
Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, Modi took to social media, thanking President Mohamed bin Zayed for the reception.
The leaders held both one-on-one and delegation-level talks immediately upon Modi’s arrival, where they assessed the bilateral partnership and discussed avenues for further cooperation. They celebrated the deepening of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various sectors, including trade, investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture, and people-to-people ties.
During their meeting, Modi expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality and reiterated the familial bond he feels with the UAE. He highlighted the frequent interactions between the two countries, emphasizing the mutual partnership evident across all sectors.
Among the significant agreements signed were the Bilateral Investment Treaty, an MoU on electrical interconnection and trade cooperation, and an Intergovernmental Framework Agreement on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor.
The Bilateral Investment Treaty is expected to play a pivotal role in further promoting investments in both nations. Additionally, India has signed both a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE.
Other agreements included cooperation in Digital Infrastructure Projects, a Cooperation protocol between National Archives, heritage, museums, and interlinking payment platforms UPI and AANI, as well as domestic debit/credit cards RuPay and JAYWAN.
Modi congratulated President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on the launch of UAE’s domestic card JAYWAN, which operates on the digital RuPay credit and debit card framework.
The leaders also discussed strengthening their partnership in the energy sector, noting India’s increasing involvement in long-term contracts for LNG.
Furthermore, Modi expressed gratitude for the support extended by President Sheikh Mohamed, particularly for initiatives such as the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), which aims to connect India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe.
Reflecting the depth of bilateral ties, this visit marks Modi’s third to the UAE and the fifth meeting between the two leaders within the past eight months. The visit underscores the commitment to strengthening the partnership between India and the UAE.
Ahead of the visit, agreements were signed between RITES Limited and Abu Dhabi Ports Company, along with the Gujarat Maritime Board, aimed at enhancing port infrastructure and connectivity between the two nations.
