PM Modi departs UAE following a brief stay in Abu Dhabi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from the UAE on Tuesday following a brief stay in Abu Dhabi on his way back from Munich, Germany.

This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the Prime Minister’s visit to Abu Dhabi in August 2019. The visit’s principal objective was for the Prime Minister to express his personal condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan last month.

“For stronger partnerships. For closer friendships. PM @narendramodi concludes his visit to Germany and UAE,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

“PM @narendramodi conveyed his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan last month to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan & other Royal Family members NSA Sheikh Tahnoun, DPM Sheikh Mansour, MD ADIA Sheikh Hamed & FM Sheikh Abdullah,” said Bagchi in another tweet.

The Prime Minister expressed his sympathies to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other members of the Royal family.

“Prime Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as well as family members including Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dy Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, MD, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation among others,” the MEA said in a statement.

The Prime Minister also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on becoming the UAE’s third President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Both leaders discussed several areas of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which they have carefully fostered in recent years. Both nations signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on February 18 during their Virtual Summit, which went into effect on May 1.

CEPA is projected to enhance bilateral commerce and investment even more.

Bilateral trade in FY 2021-22 was about USD 72 billion. UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner and second-largest export destination. UAE FDI in India has continuously increased over the past few years and currently stands at over USD 12 billion.

“During the Virtual Summit, both leaders had also released a Vision Statement which has laid the roadmap for bilateral cooperation in coming years in diverse areas including trade, investment, energy including renewable energy, food security, health, defence, skills, education, culture and people-to-people ties. Both leaders expressed satisfaction that India and UAE continue to forge closer partnership in these areas building on their close and friendly relations and historical people-to-people connect. India-UAE have a strong energy partnership which is now acquiring a new focus on renewable energy,” the MEA said.

The Prime Minister thanked UAE President and Abu Dhabi Ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan for taking great care of 3.5 million Indian community in UAE, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He invited Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit India at an early date.