Signs Key Agreements to Strengthen Strategic Partnership
Vinod Bhat
NEW DELHI, September 10, 2024 – In a significant development, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, is on an official two-day visit to India, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the Crown Prince’s first visit to India in this capacity.
The Crown Prince, who was received by Union Minister Piyush Goyal upon his arrival in New Delhi on September 9th, held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi earlier today. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in recent years and discussed opportunities to further deepen cooperation in various domains.
Several key agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visit, signaling the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries:
- MoU on Nuclear Cooperation: Signed between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NNPCIL) and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), to enhance cooperation in nuclear power plant operations, sourcing of nuclear goods and services, and capacity building.
- Agreement for Long-term LNG Supply: Signed between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited, adding to the existing long-term LNG supply contracts between ADNOC and Indian companies.
- MoU between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL): Explores ADNOC’s participation in additional crude oil storage opportunities in India and the renewal of the existing storage and management agreement.
- Production Concession Agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1: Signed between Urja Bharat (a joint venture of IOCL and Bharat Petro Resources Ltd) and ADNOC, marking the first such agreement for an Indian company to operate in the UAE.
- MoU between Gujarat Government and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ): Paves the way for the development of food parks in India, with a focus on the Gundanpara, Bavla site in Ahmedabad.
The Crown Prince also called on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where they discussed the warm and historic ties between the two countries. Additionally, the Crown Prince visited Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, becoming the third-generation leader from the UAE to plant a sapling at the site.
Tomorrow, the Crown Prince will visit Mumbai and participate in an India-UAE Business Forum, which will provide a platform for business leaders and officials to explore future areas of cooperation. The event will also see the soft launch of the India-UAE virtual trade corridor (VTC) and MAITRI interface to facilitate the VTC.
This visit by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi is expected to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates, with a focus on expanding cooperation in traditional as well as emerging sectors.
