Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India’s energy security and infrastructural investments from the UAE will be the key topics of his discussions with the Gulf nation’s top leadership this week. In an interview to Gulf News’ XPRESS ahead of his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates from Saturday, Modi said that he will meet Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Modi said energy security and infrastructural investments in India will be the key topics that he will discuss with the UAE’s leadership. The investment from UAE to India exceeds $11 billion.
A number of initiatives taken during his earlier visit to the UAE in August 2015 and during the visit of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed last year when he was the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations have come to fruition, he said. “It is a matter of even greater happiness that new Government-to-Government and business-to-business initiatives promise to add even more strength and depth to the bilateral cooperation in various areas of economic activity,” Modi said.
The prime minister noted that the UAE was home to over three million people of Indian origin. “The Indian community has acted as a bridge between the two countries and I hope my visit will further strengthen these ties,” he said. When asked whether he has had a holiday, Modi told the paper: “I have not been on a holiday either as Chief Minister or now as Prime Minister. However, my work does require me to travel across India and interact with people, learn about their joys, sorrows and aspirations. This is refreshing and rejuvenating for me.” Read More
