New Delhi: Aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation, India and the United Arab Emirates signed five new agreements today, focusing on pivotal areas such as nuclear energy and petroleum. The agreements were finalized during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, held in New Delhi.
Among the key agreements is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning the operations and maintenance of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. This MoU involves the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company and India’s Nuclear Power Corporation Limited, marking a deepened collaboration in the nuclear energy sector.
In the petroleum sector, a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement was signed between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Additionally, another MoU was established between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited to further bolster energy security.
The discussions between Modi and Sheikh Khaled highlighted the substantial progress made in the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and explored avenues to expand this cooperation. The leaders acknowledged the positive impact of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the recent implementation of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which are expected to enhance economic and commercial relations between the two nations.
Both leaders emphasized the need to explore new frontiers of collaboration, including nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies.
In a related event, President Droupadi Murmu met with the Crown Prince at Rashtrapati Bhavan, expressing her appreciation for the historically strong and friendly relations between the two countries. The Crown Prince also visited Rajghat to pay his respects to Mahatma Gandhi, reflecting the deep respect and enduring ties between India and the UAE.
This latest round of agreements underscores a commitment to deepening the strategic partnership and exploring emerging opportunities for collaboration.
