JEDDAH, 8 June 2007 — Talmiz Ahmad, a senior diplomat and director general of the Indian Council of World Affairs, is set to become India’s next ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
The government is likely to make an official announcement about Ahmad’s appointment within a fortnight, The Asian Age newspaper said yesterday, quoting reliable sources.
Ahmad, who currently enjoys the rank of additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has a long professional history in Gulf affairs having earlier served as India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Oman.
“The appointment of a senior diplomat like Ahmad as India’s envoy to UAE is part of the broader plan of New Delhi to upgrade its ties to a new level,” said The Asian Age.
UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum’s visit to India in March put the spotlight on New Delhi’s growing economic and strategic engagement with the UAE, which has emerged as a major business hub in the Middle East.
The UAE also hosts nearly 1.5 million guest workers from India.
The India-UAE Joint Commission held talks in New Delhi on Tuesday and Wednesday 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 countries’ plan to invest an estimated $250 billion in Asia by 2010.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan, headed the UAE delegation in talks while the Indian side was led by Pranab Mukherjee.
Indian newspapers said the UAE has had social and mercantile contacts with the region for ages. The relationship between India and UAE has traditionally been close and friendly.