On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated India's new Consulate General in Marseille, a significant step towards boosting bilateral relations. PM Modi dubbed it a "historic moment" and emphasised the longstanding ties between Marseille and India. Marseille was an important part of India's history, acting as a major base for Indian troops during World War I and having close ties to freedom warrior Veer Savarkar. The decision to create the consulate was made during Prime Minister Modi's July 2023 visit to France. The new mission will offer co
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is in Singapore for a two-day visit, where he will engage in high-level discussions to deepen economic and strategic partnerships. On Tuesday, he met with Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to discuss potential new alliances in semiconductors, urban planning, and green energy. Sarma emphasised Assam's rising contribution to India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Singapore. He emphasised Assam as a vital hub for trade, business, and technology. In a post on X, he recalled Singapore's close relationship with Assam and fondly rememb
Singapore and Indonesia have renewed their commitment to maritime excellence by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for another two years. This agreement aims to train government marine authorities, improve sea safety, and increase environmental protection activities. The extension, signed on February 7, 2025, marks the 20th anniversary of the fruitful collaboration between Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and Indonesia's Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST). Over the last two decades, this relationship has been critical in training marine officials and imp
According to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the UAE and Japan plan to finish discussions for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2025. According to Dr. Al Zeyoudi, the agreement represents both countries' strong commitment to strengthening economic ties, expanding trade relations, and opening up new possibilities for investment and commercial partnerships. The UAE is Japan's most important trading partner in the Arab world, accounting for almost 37% of overall exports to the area. Meanwhile, Japan is one of the
At the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for France on Monday, February 10–12, 2025, for a three-day visit. This visit, which will focus on important topics including commerce, defence, nuclear energy, and AI, is important for enhancing India-France ties. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised during a press briefing in New Delhi that PM Modi and President Macron will co-chair the AI Action Summit on February 11 as a key event during the visit. The summit's main focus will be AI governance, which guarantees the development of AI responsibly
On February 5, the military forces of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States conducted a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone. This collaborative endeavour demonstrates a common commitment to regional security and strengthens international collaboration for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Building on past MCAs, this exercise improves the interoperability of the participating nations' defence forces. It improves cooperation in doctrines, tactics, techniques, and processes, resulting in seamless joint operations for
Argentina and the UAE used a high-level economic seminar in Abu Dhabi as a forum to discuss potential new trade and investment opportunities. Prominent government representatives and corporate executives from both countries attended the event, which was co-organized by the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Talks focused on Argentina's recently implemented Incentive Regime for Large Investments, a calculated move to draw in foreign investment, especially from investors in the UAE. Tax incentives, regulatory stability, and long-term predictability ar
According to an official source, India and the United Kingdom will continue negotiations on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) beginning February 24. The UK trade minister is set to visit New Delhi soon to speed up discussions. The talks began in January 2022 but stalled as both countries entered their general election cycles. The pact seeks to boost bilateral trade and investment by removing or lowering duties on most commodities. It would also simplify restrictions to encourage trade in services and investments. Indian industries are advocating for increased access for qualified pro
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty is scheduled to visit India this week for the first-ever bilateral strategic engagement between the countries. Abdelatty's journey to India is his first since being appointed last year. The talks will cover a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade, security, and West Asian developments, according to sources on Monday. The strategic dialogue with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is part of attempts to elevate Indo-Egyptian relations to a strategic partnership, as decided in 2023. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's visit to India
The UAE-India Business Council-UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) have signed an MoU to boost trade and investment. The agreement was signed during the "UAE-India: Partnership for Enduring Prosperity" event at the Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah, as part of India's 76th Republic Day celebrations. His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attended the ceremony, as did key authorities and business executives. The MoU intends to boost investment between the UAE and Maharashtra, streamline business operations for UA