India, UAE to hold strategic talks on energy, trade, security

The Dollar Business Bureau 

Before the visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who will be the Chief Guest of Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India and the UAE will conduct their first strategic discussion on Friday to have talks on cooperation in major areas such as trade, energy and security. 

Announcing the of visit of Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince from January 24-26, Vikas Swarup, Spokesperson, External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday that the dignitary would meet the President, Vice-President and also have discussions with PM Narendra Modi on bilateral, global and regional issues of mutual interest. 

The Strategic Dialogue will be co-chaired by M J Akbar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and his UAE counterpart Anwar Mohammed Gargash. 

The Dialogue is being held for the first time since the two nations have agreed to enhance the mutually beneficial ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership after PM Modi’s visit to the UAE in 2015. 

The Strategic Cooperation Agreement between the two sides is likely to be agreed upon during the Friday’s meet and is expected to be signed when Modi and Al Nahyan meet, according to the officials. 

This is the second time the Crown Prince is visiting India, who last travelled to the country in February 2016. He will be leading by a group of high-level delegates, including ministers, officials and leaders of industry. 

During the visit, both the nations will explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation in key areas of trade and energy.

India and UAE have been each other’s major trading partners, having a balanced bilateral trade of around $50 billion in the fiscal 2015-16.