Placing young Emirati interns in top Indian companies and more translations of literature would be a logical next step to further ties between the two nations, two long-serving diplomats said.
Omar Ghobash, the UAE’s assistant minister for culture and public diplomacy, and Navdeep Suri, a former Indian ambassador to the UAE, spoke of how cultural ties, literature and educational exchanges were the key to the future during Ideas — A Shared History, an event on Sunday at Expo 2020 Dubai.
“India has a rich literature. I can’t read any of it, I can’t access it but I know by reputation,” said Mr Ghobash, who was previously UAE ambassador to France and Russia.
“I would personally be fascinated by literature out of the Malayalam language because I have been surrounded by Keralities all my life.
There are a lot of Emirati kids who need to understand who is it working alongside us and without whom we would not be what we are today
Omar Ghobash
"I want to know what it is they write about, what do they think about. For me that is a mystery. It would really open my eyes.
“There are a lot of Emirati kids who need to understand who is it working alongside us, without whom we would not be what we are today. That is something that is important.”
The two countries signed a historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement last week that outlined new avenues for investment aiming to increase bilateral trade from $60 billion to $100bn in the next five years.
A vision statement by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, on Friday also agreed to set up a council to promote cultural exchanges, dialogues and exhibitions.
There has also been a decision to establish an Indian institute of technology in the UAE. The IIT is India’s top engineering institute with 23 branches across the country.
The diplomats spoke of building on the new relationship.
“I’m really excited about this relationship. I actually think it’s like putting the crown on top of the relationship,” Mr Ghobash said.
He described ties with India and Israel as “two new relationships that essentially will, I think, turbo-charge the Emirates forward and will allow us to have a greater say on the direction of the Middle East, hopefully.”
Mr Suri said that during lunch with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, he learnt about an internship programme the UAE minister started when he led the education department.
The former Indian envoy said a similar programme was possible with the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an apex Indian trade body.
“With FICCI, we can start a programme where we place young Emiratis from NYUAD [and] UAE University in internships with top companies in India and get them to spend three to six months to get experience of what the Indian business environment is like,” Mr Suri said.
“There is an obligation for young Emiratis to understand this giant economy next door by seeing it first hand.
“We also need to connect our writers, intellectuals and opinion makers. There is a lot of room for translations of our literature.”
Mr Suri spoke of a collective responsibility to build strong connections between young people.
“The area where we lag is culture,” he said. “Much of Indian cultural activity is aimed at the Indian community. There is simply not enough of a cultural cross connect.
"The kinship that existed between my generation and older Emiratis is beginning to dissipate in the younger generation. I worry that our young people, both in India and the UAE, are looking at the West rather than at each other.
“We need to get creative and innovative on how to get them to engage with each other.”
The Indian community, with more than 3.4 million people in the UAE, is the country's largest expatriate population.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Results
Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.
Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).
Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.
Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
