Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held delegation-level talks with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at his official residence in New Delhi. During the meeting, several agreements were signed in the fields of Defence, Space, Energy, Supercomputing and Food Safety between India and the UAE. Briefing the media about the outcomes of the meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that agreements were signed in the field of strategic defence partnership, joint initiatives on space infrastructure development and its commercialisation, and the UAE’s participation in the development of a special investment region in Dholera, Gujarat.

Mr Misri also said that both nations signed a sales and purchase agreement between HPCL India and Adnoc Gas UAE. He said that India and the UAE have agreed on the establishment of a supercomputing cluster in India. The foreign secretary said that both sides have also agreed to double bilateral trade to two hundred billion dollars by 2032.

The Foreign Secretary said the UAE’s participation in the development of a special investment region in Dholera, Gujarat, is aimed at the establishment of international airport, pilot training school, smart urban township, and projects related to railway connectivity and energy infrastructure. He said that both countries will promote bilateral civil nuclear cooperation.

Mr Misri also said that First Abu Dhabi Bank and DP World will set up their offices and operations in GIFT city Gujarat. The Foreign Secretary said that the House of India will be established in Abu Dhabi, which will be a cultural space consisting of a museum of Indian Art, Heritage, and Archaeology, among others.