IGF 2024: India Ambassador Sunjay Sudhir On The Ever-Growing India-UAE Relations

In a compelling address on Day 1 at the India Global Forum (IGF) 2024, held in the Dubai, India's Ambassador to the UAE, HE Sunjay Sudhir, reflected on the remarkable journey and exponential growth of the India-UAE relationship over recent years. He highlighted the historical beginnings of this relationship, rooted in the pearl trade, and its evolution into a multifaceted partnership embracing trade, technology, talent, and trust.

HE Sudhir's speech underscored the vibrant dynamics of this relationship, further bolstered by frequent high-level visits, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's seven visits to the UAE and reciprocal visits by UAE leaders to India.

The Ambassador praised the IGF for its role in strengthening ties between India and the UAE, particularly noting the forum's success in facilitating meaningful dialogue and collaboration. The ambassador's remarks underscored the significance of the forum in the context of the rapidly deepening and widening relationship between the two nations.

Furthermore, Sudhir cited the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2022 as a landmark achievement, emphasizing the mutual trust that enabled its swift conclusion and the subsequent boost to bilateral trade.

He said: "In this part of the world, the UAE is clearly India’s strongest and most trusted partner. This relationship is not just historical but has become a beacon of modern collaboration. In the past three years alone, we have witnessed milestones that speak volumes about our shared ambition and commitment.

"In 2022, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed. This was no ordinary achievement—it was a historic milestone, finalized in just 88 days. Such efficiency is a testament to the mutual trust that underpins our relationship. CEPA has already transformed our trade ties, propelling bilateral trade to $85 billion, making India the UAE’s third-largest trading partner and the UAE India’s second-largest."

The speech drew attention to the innovative collaborations between India and the UAE, notably in financial technology. HE Sudhir highlighted the integration of India's RuPay and the UAE's G1 domestic card stacks, as well as efforts to connect India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UAE's instant payment platform. "India’s UPI platform is also gaining traction in the UAE, with plans underway to integrate it with the UAE’s ANI payment system, enabling seamless transactions for the 3.9 million Indians residing here and 4.4 million Indian tourists annually."

HE Sudhir also underscored the importance of education as a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. he highlighted the transformative strides being made in the education and innovation space between India and the UAE—a relationship that continues to evolve, benefiting not just our two nations but the global community.

"Just last week, our Foreign Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, was in the UAE to inaugurate the first overseas campus of Symbiosis International University. This milestone is part of a larger effort to create an education bridge between our nations—one that serves as a foundation for knowledge exchange, skill development, and innovation."

He also recalled Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, attending the inauguration of the first international campus of India’s prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the UAE capital. He added this historic moment underscores the commitment of both nations to nurturing future-ready talent.

The ambassador's speech delved into the cultural dimensions of the India-UAE relationship. He stated that the opening of the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, a symbol of the shared values of peace, tolerance, and harmony, in February by India Prime Minister Narendra Modi underpinned the partnership between India and the UAE.

This, alongside innovative trade and technology initiatives like the Virtual Trade Corridor and the MAITRI interface, which will facilitate trade and reduce administrative processes, logistics, and transport costs, showcases the broad and deep engagement between the two countries.

HE Sudhir expressed gratitude towards the IGF for its pivotal role in fostering the India-UAE relationship. He commended the forum for bringing together influential thinkers and leaders to generate ideas that have propelled this partnership to new heights.

Al in all, HE Sudhir's reflections at the IGF 2024 provided a comprehensive overview of the India-UAE relationship's past, present, and promising future. It highlighted the multifaceted cooperation that has become a hallmark of this partnership, emphasizing the crucial role of dialogue, innovation, and cultural exchange in driving forward a shared vision for success.