The UAE has agreed to collaborate with India to launch joint aid projects in Africa.
Indian officials hailed the deal, which was signed during an official visit to the UAE by the country’s foreign minister, Sushma Swaraj, as “significant”.
The first step will be the establishment of an IT centre of excellence in Ethiopia.
The project will rely on Indian expertise in the area as well as funding from the UAE. Good will towards the UAE in Ethiopia, the result of the country playing a crucial role in brokering a recent peace deal with Eritrea, was a further factor in the project, the Economic Times, an Indian daily newspaper, reported.
The Indian Government’s ministry of external affairs confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), titled ‘development cooperation in Africa’, had been signed with the UAE. It will be only the second partnership deal India has agreed with a ‘third country’ in Africa, the other being an agreement with Japan. The UAE later also confirmed the agreements.
A second deal, titled ‘currency swap agreement’ and signed by the governor of the UAE’s central back, was also agreed with India.
Raveesh Kumar, an official spokesman for the Indian government, said “exhaustive discussions” had taken place between the UAE and India on the trip. Areas covered included energy, security, trade and space, he said.
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Mrs Swaraj spent much of her visit with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. She also met Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Mr Kumar, Ms Swaraj’s aide, said the visit had shown India’s “special relations” with the UAE. Discussing her meeting with Sheikh Mohamed on Twitter, he said both “expressed satisfaction at the pace of our bilateral relations in a range of areas, attesting to our comprehensive strategic partnership.”
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, right, meets Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs of India, left, during a Sea Palace barza. Seen with Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State, Chairman of Masdar and CEO of Adnoc Group, second right; Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, third right; Dr Anwar bin Mohamed Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, fourth right; Navdeep Singh Suri, Ambassador of India to the UAE, second left. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets with Roger Nkodo Dang, president of the Pan-African Parliament, centre, and Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, right, during a Sea Palace barza. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
From left: Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region; Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, attend a Sea Palace barza. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets with Princess Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud, Undersecretary of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia, President of the Saudi Federation of Community Sports, center, and Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi, UAE Minister of State for International Co-operation during a Sea Palace barza. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Noura Mohamed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, second left; Shamma Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, third left; Dr Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State, fourth left; Hessa Essa Buhumaid, UAE Minister of Community Development, fifth letf; and Mariam Mohamed Saeed Hareb Al Mehairi, UAE Minister of State for Food Security, right, attend a Sea Palace barza. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
The 12th session of the UAE-India Joint Commission Meeting was also held in Abu Dhabi, concluding on Tuesday.
At the event, Sheikh Abdullah noted the UAE’s “strong historical ties” with India. He said the close relations between the two countries are based on mutual respect, trust and aimed at enhancing the mutual benefit of the people of the two friendly countries, state news agency Wam said.
Both sides countries strengthened their resolve to combat extremism and terrorism in all its forms, regardless of the perpetrators and their intent, the Wam report stated.
