Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, begins his official visit to India today. Over the next three days, Sheikh Mohammed will meet India’s senior leadership in Delhi, including prime minister Narendra Modi and president Pranab Mukherjee. The leaders are expected to sign 16 economic agreements worth billions of dollars across energy, information technology, aerospace and transport sectors. This visit will be Sheikh Mohammed’s first official trip to India and it comes on the heels of Mr Modi fruitful visit to the UAE last August.
India and the UAE have a long and positive history as allies that has been accentuated by the large Indian presence in the country. Nearly 2.6 million Indians – the largest UAE expatriate community – make their home here. They form a physical bridge between the countries. According to the World Bank, remittances from Indian expatriates in the UAE account for approximately US$13 billion (Dh47bn), while bilateral trade is about $60bn. Moreover, many Indians have spent large portions of their working careers in the UAE, bringing with them traditions that have been woven into the country’s unique cultural framework.
India is one of the world’s most powerful emerging markets. Economically, the country is a crucial area of trade for the UAE. Politically, India is a crucial link in geopolitical affairs across Asia. Under Mr Modi’s leadership, India’s economy has been robust. As The National reported yesterday, India has outpaced China in terms of GDP growth.
Given our long-standing and close relationship with India, Sheikh Mohammed’s visit is a reminder of the partnerships we have built together. As the global economy transforms and moves beyond its reliance on hydrocarbons, our economic partnership will take on new urgency with deeper cooperation. As such, the alliance between Abu Dhabi and New Delhi is part of the foundation of our regional economic security.
