India and the UAE have seen a “veritable transformation” in their ties, which are now beginning to have a broader ripple impact, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday.
Calling the signing of the bilateral trade pact between India and the UAE a defining decision of this transformation, the union minister emphasised that India and the UAE want to use their relationship to shape the changing world. S Jaishankar said this in the keynote address at India Global Forum and panel discussion – India-UAE: Partners for Global Impact in Abu Dhabi.
India and the UAE signed UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022. The UAE is India’s third largest trade partner and second largest export market. More Indian citizens live in the country than in any other country abroad. “Today, our discussions are about space, education, artificial intelligence, health and start-ups. The old, traditional energy trade investments continue, but a new agenda is also coming into being,” S Jaishankar said.
The External Affairs Minister also highlighted the ability to expand India-UAE relationship with other partners. India and the UAE are also doing more things together, he said, such as exploring the possibility of health cooperation in Africa, and alliances like the I2US (India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States).
