Openness, opportunity and optimism is mantra for India-UAE ties, says UAE envoy

Pandemic has allowed and given opportunities to India and UAE to create a new navigation tool that will bolster the strategic and economic ties. Strategic partnership is the key for the sustainable economic partnership between the two countries, according to UAE’s envoy to India Dr Ahmed AR Albanna.

He was speaking at a public session titled ‘India-UAE Relations: Breaking new ground’ organised by India’s leading public policy body Ananta Aspen Centre.

“The energy trade with India has formed the crux of India-UAE relations, bringing rapid evolution to the UAE’s economy. Bilateral relations between India and UAE stand on two pillars of innovation and diversification. The Strategic Partnership between India and UAE are vital for smooth transition for economic growth,” according to Dr Albanna. “Historic relationship between India and UAE was based on energy, trade and diaspora, recently it has broadened to Defence, Security, Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Sophisticated technology like AI and Blockchain. Cooperation is deepening between the countries.”

It may be pointed out here that the UAE is India’s top trading partner in entire West Asia. Bilateral trade between the two countries now stands at about $52 billion. Indian diaspora in UAE is the largest in the World and it plays a pivotal role in strengthening and building people-to-people contact. The close cooperation between both countries has allowed India to occupy its first oil stake in the Gulf at Lower Zakum Oilfield. The hosting of COP28 in 2023 by the UAE will help India and UAE to collaborate and cooperate in the field of Climate Change.

“The signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel and UAE has removed a significant strategic obstacle for New Delhi, allowing for trilateral cooperation between India-Israel and UAE. The Western Quad will open new frontiers for India,” according to the UAE envoy.

Both the countries should embrace a collaborative vision in the digital technological arena, as UAE aspires to become the global hub for technology in the future. “CEPA will serve as a game-changer in regional cooperation between India and UAE. It will help India achieve its goal of becoming a five trillion-dollar economy. It will positively affect the issues of unemployment, trade, the flow of investment and build a one zone manufacturing corridor,” pointed out Dr Albanna.

The vision of both the leaderships is guided by principles of Openness, Opportunity and Optimism, he noted.