Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the ‘Friends of BRICS’ meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. The two ministers discussed the strategic relations and cooperation between India and the UAE, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The CEPA was launched in 2022 and has already had a significant impact on trade between the two countries. In the first year of the agreement, non-oil trade between India and the UAE rose to about $51.46 billion.The ministers also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between India and the UAE in areas such as energy, investment, and technology. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the situation in Afghanistan and the Ukraine crisis.
Dr. Jaishankar said that India and the UAE are “natural partners” and that the two countries have a “shared vision” for the future. He expressed his hope that the CEPA will “further deepen and strengthen” the relationship between India and the UAE.Sheikh Abdullah said that the UAE is committed to working with India to “build a better future” for both countries. He said that the CEPA is a “major milestone” in the relationship between India and the UAE and that it will “open up new opportunities for cooperation” in a wide range of areas.The meeting between Dr. Jaishankar and Sheikh Abdullah was a sign of the strong and growing relationship between India and the UAE. The two countries are committed to working together to promote peace, prosperity, and stability in the region.