Blitz Bureau
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on September 9 and the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the “substantial progress” achieved in recent years in the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also discussed opportunities to further widen and deepen the partnership in all areas of bilateral cooperation. This is the Crown Prince’s first official visit to India.
“They acknowledged that the success of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the recent entry into force of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) will provide further impetus to the strong economic and commercial partnership between the two countries. They also underscored the need to explore new areas of untapped potential, particularly in nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence and cuttingedge technologies,” the MEA stated. “The Crown Prince’s visit will further reinforce strong India-UAE bilateral relations and open avenues for partnership in new and emerging areas,” the MEA’s statement further read.
Nuclear energy
Following the talks, five agreements in various areas, including nuclear energy and petroleum were signed. It included a MoU in the field of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Maintenance between Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL); an agreement for long-term LNG supply between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited; a MoU between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL); Production Concession Agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 between Urja Bharat and ADNOC; and, a MoU between Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ) on food parks development in India. Later in the day, the Crown Prince called on President Droupadi Murmu. Welcoming the third generation of UAE leadership to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Murmu highlighted that the “historic yet forward-looking” bilateral relationship between India and the UAE has been transformed after having been steered by the “visionary leadership” of both countries over the past decade.
