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PM Modi's UAE visit: Talks trade and investment
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SME Times News Bureau | 17 Aug, 2015
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Sunday arrived in the United Arab Emirates in the first prime
ministerial visit in over three decades, with boosting trade and
investment on top of his agenda.
Modi, who is in UAE on a two-day
official visit, was received by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed
bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport and accorded a ceremonial welcome.
In
a significant gesture, five brothers of the crown prince were also
present at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport to receive Modi, according
to tweets by external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
Modi,
the first Indian prime minister to visit the UAE after the 1981 visit
of Indira Gandhi, went straight to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the
biggest mosque in Abu Dhabi. He spent some time there and also took a
selfie with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Anwar Gargash at the
mosque.
He wrote in the visitor's book, saying: "I am confident
that it will be a symbol of peace, piety, harmony and inclusiveness that
are inherent to the faith of Islam."
In a significant development, the UAE decided to allot land for building a temple in Abu Dhabi for the Indian community.
"A
long wait for the Indian community ends. On the occasion of PM's visit,
UAE Govt decides to allot land for building a temple in Abu Dhabi,"
tweeted Swarup.
"PM @narendramodi thanks UAE leadership for this landmark decision," he said.
Modi
held talks with the UAE leadership "on ways to enhance bilateral ties
of friendship and cooperation and exchanged views on a variety of
regional and international issues of mutual interest", said WAM, the
UAE's national news agency.
The crown prince expressed his
delight at Modi's visit, which, he said, "comes within the context of
the distinguished historic, friendly bilateral ties whose foundation was
laid down by the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan based on culminated into a strong partnership", said WAM.
He emphasised the UAE's "keenness to further broaden its scope of joint cooperation with India".
Later,
Modi also visited the ICAD Residential City here, a labour camp housing
about one lakh migrant workers from India and other countries of the
subcontinent.
Modi interacted with a select group of Indian migrant workers at the ICAD city.
The ICAD camp, spanning about 14 sq km, is also known as the ICAD Workers' Village, and was built three years ago for workers.
The PMO tweeted: "Team India in UAE, interacting with PM @narendramodi."
In
the evening, he discussed investment opportunities during a dinner
hosted by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), that controls the
$800 billion sovereign wealth fund of the oil-rich Gulf country.
Star
chef Sanjeev Kapoor was flown to Abu Dhabi to dish up a special
vegetarian fare for Modi, a strict vegetarian, by the Abu Dhabi
Investment Authority.
"Discussing invest opprts over high level
dinner. HH Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, MD of Abu Dhabi Inv. Authority
hosts PM," tweeted Swarup.
The ADIA sovereign wealth fund is said to be the world`s second largest sovereign wealth fund.
Modi will be seeking to tap the sovereign wealth fund for infrastructure projects in India.
Excitement is high among the Indian expatriates in the UAE, who number 2.6 million, regarding Modi's visit.
Around
20 percent of the Indian workers are white-collar professionals. Indian
expatriates comprise 30 percent of the UAE's population and are the
largest nationality group.
Indians in the UAE are the largest
remitters globally, and sent $12.64 billion to their country in 2014.
India is also the third largest source of tourists travelling to the
UAE.
Earlier, ahead of his visit, Modi in an interview to the
Khaleej Times said: ""I want to see the UAE as our foremost trade and
investment partner. We would build regular and effective cooperation in a
full range of security challenges. Our armed forces would engage with
each other more. We will work together more closely in international
forums and in addressing regional challenges. There are no limits to our
relationship."
The India-UAE trade crossed $59 billion in
2014-15, making the country India`s third largest trading partner after
China and the US.
On Monday, Modi is to visit the sustainable Masdar City, where he will address the UAE business community.
Modi
will attend a special lunch reception hosted by the Indian Embassy at
the Oberoi Hotel in Business Bay, where 25 top business community
members will be in attendance.
His last engagement on Monday is a
public engagement with the Indian diaspora at the Dubai Cricket Stadium
where around 50,000 Indian expatriates have registered to attend.
Modi returns later at night.
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