UAE-India Cultural Council Forum launched at UAE-India Joint Council meeting

Before the start of the work of the Joint Committee, Sheikh Abdullah met with the Indian Foreign Minister to discuss ways to further consolidate the strategic relationship and comprehensive partnership between the two countries as friendly countries. They also exchanged views on some regional and international issues of interest.

Addressing members of the committee, the senior UAE diplomat said: “I would like to start by giving each of you a warm welcome. It’s great to see so many familiar faces in the room – I hope the United Arab Emirates now feels like a second Family.

“I am delighted to be here today to witness the opening of the fourteenth session of the UAE-India Joint Committee. I must begin by stressing my condolences to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister of the Republic of India We are grateful for the leadership of Lendra Modi. We have greatly benefited from their wise guidance and stewardship as our strategic relationship widens and deepens.”

Sheikh Abdullah added that the ongoing dialogue between the two countries has been successful in a wide range of areas, most notably the launch of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017 and the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022.

“The growth of economic relations brought about by CEPA has created a wealth of opportunities in trade, investment, tourism, aviation and more. In fact, our respective economies have already begun to prosper under this agreement.

“India is the UAE’s largest export partner, second in imports and first in attracting foreign direct investment from the UAE. Furthermore, air traffic between the two countries will reach nearly 3.5 million passengers in 2021,” he explained .

Sheikh Abdullah noted that the UAE is the second largest destination and source of India’s exports and imports, and its position is growing as a source of foreign direct investment for India.

“Total trade between the two countries has reached unprecedented levels, climbing to nearly $70 billion by 2021. In fact, our relationship is one of the most successful bilateral stories in economic diplomacy.

“The success of our relationship has been enhanced by establishing various multilateral cooperation initiatives. Our multilateral cooperation is an integral part of our strategy to advance the UAE-India relationship while enhancing our position regionally and globally,” he continued.

Sheikh Abdullah highlighted the successful collaboration within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the collaboration between the two countries within the I2U2 group as evidence of existing and emerging opportunities for the UAE and India in international organisations and institutions.

“I am also looking forward to deepening cooperation with India through the UAE’s enhanced participation in the BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and G20. We are eager to contribute meaningfully in these forums in a manner consistent with the UAE’s position in the international community,” the minister added.

He thanked the Republic of India for supporting the UAE in becoming a Council Member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the period 2023-2026. “Furthermore, we value India’s support for the UAE’s re-nomination of members to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Group III Council for 2022-2025.

Addressing his Indian counterparts and their accompanying delegation, Sheikh Abdullah said: “Dear Foreign Ministers, Colleagues: You should recall that in signing and implementing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, we set An ambitious goal of increasing our trade volume. Over the next five years, non-oil trade will reach $100 billion.

“In order to achieve this and realize the ambitious economic vision proposed by both parties, I have personally been keen to enhance the role of the UAE embassy in facilitating trade and investment cooperation. I hope our embassies can serve as our ambassadors around the world. A model for embassies and embassies.

“As we continue to discuss the opportunities, achievements and outstanding relationships that make up the UAE-India relationship, it is also necessary for us to address the challenges that arise as we grow closer.”

In this regard, Sheikh Abdullah urged constructive cooperation between the two sides: “We cannot delay resolving outstanding issues, instead we must design intuitive and innovative solutions to our challenges to ensure that they can serve as yet another record Go down in history for our success.”

He stressed the need to move forward with double taxation exemptions and aviation, noting that these two areas “form the axis of our continued trade, investment and tourism growth”.

Sheikh Abdullah continued that the UAE-India relationship has deep historical roots, which can be seen in the close social ties between the citizens of both countries. “There is no doubt that our shared values ​​and customs, as well as our bonds of friendship, have grown stronger over the past five years.

“I look forward to continuing to advance our cultural relationship, including through UAE initiatives such as the ‘Zayed Gandhi Digital Museum’ to honour the values ​​of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday.”

He emphasized that the establishment of the “UAE-India Cultural Council” will create more opportunities for cultural cooperation. “In my opinion, encouraging joint cultural projects and dialogues between the leaders of the two countries is essential to deepen mutual understanding. “After all, this is the solid cultural foundation that unites the people of the UAE and India, contributing to achievements in the political and economic spheres. . “

Sheikh Abdullah concluded by thanking the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India and members of the UAE and Indian delegations, calling on the participants to continue their excellent work and continue to serve both countries in pursuit of a shared vision of the values ​​of peace, tolerance and prosperity.

Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India, welcomed the long-term strategic relationship between the two countries and praised the UAE’s important role in the past period of low global morale. “We also appreciate that when global morale is low, the UAE has sent a clear message to the world that when times are tough, it’s tough going.”

“Over the past two years,” the senior Indian diplomat continued, “there has been a growing awareness on both sides that we are an integral part of each other’s economic and political futures. Our track record in concrete deliverables It says it all. The conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 88 days demonstrates the commitment of both parties and sends a loud and clear statement to the world that there is a will for it.”

The Indian minister expressed delight that high-level interactions between the two countries continued despite Covid-19. “In this context, I would like to thank His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Abu Dhabi on 28 June 2022. If A picture is worth a thousand words, I think this warm picture of hugs between our leaders is worth a million.

“Another historic achievement was the publication of our leaders’ joint vision document in February this year as a roadmap for our partnership for the years and decades to come. I am pleased to note that work in multiple areas has Start with climate action, renewable energy, African health cooperation, establishment of IITs in the UAE, joint payment interfaces, skills cooperation, establishment of cultural councils and many other areas.”

The two senior diplomats then signed the minutes of the fourteenth meeting of the UAE-India Joint Committee. They also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Wildlife Research Institute of India and Al-Khubala Conservation International Foundation in the UAE. The MoU was signed by Abdullah Ahmed Khalaf Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of the International Hubala Conservation Fund, and Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Khaled Abdullah Belhoul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cultural Cooperation; Abdel, Assistant Minister of Economic and Trade Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Nasser Al Shaali; Dr. Ahmed Abdel Rahman Al Banna, Ambassador of the UAE to the Republic of India; Hamid Mohammed bin Salem, President, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC UAE); Khalil Ibrahim Khoori, Deputy Minister of Human Resources; Abdullah, Managing Director, International Hubala Conservation Foundation Ahmed Al Qubaisi; and some officials on both sides.