NEW DELHI, 6 June 2007 — The India-UAE Joint Commission held talks here yesterday on strengthening relations with emphasis on commerce, investment opportunities, security, culture, labor, energy, civil aviation and tourism, as part of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries’ plan to invest an estimated $250 billion in Asia by 2010.
Set up in January 1975, the commission last met in September 1994.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, headed the UAE delegation in talks with the Indian side led by his counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.
Emphasizing the significance of the ninth meeting of India-UAE Joint Commission, Sheikh Abdullah said: “I believe that the joint commission can play a major role in helping to define that new phase of links between our two countries.” Since the India visit in March of UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, both countries have been keen to further strengthen bilateral ties.
With around 1.5 million Indians working in UAE, largely as laborers, the issue will be covered in the India-UAE joint commission talks. “We will discuss the issue of Indian workers in the UAE in the course of our interaction with their delegation,” an official said.
The UAE delegation is also expected to call on Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.
Senior diplomat Talmiz Ahmad, who is at present director-general of Indian Council of World Affairs, is to become India’s next ambassador to UAE, sources said. Appointment of Ahmad, who currently enjoys the rank of additional secretary in external affairs ministry, is viewed as a part of India’s plan to upgrade its ties with UAE to a new level. Ahmad, known to be an old Gulf hand, has earlier served as India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Oman.
India has had social and mercantile contact with the region comprising the seven Emirates, which now form the United Arab Emirates, since at least 3000 B.C. The relationship between India and UAE has been traditionally close and friendly.