Mohammad 'is a visionary leader'

New Delhi: India gave a rousing welcome to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who began his two-day historic visit yesterday.

Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, and E. Ahamed, junior minister in the foreign office, received him at the airport. N. Ravi, Secretary East in the foreign office, was also present.

A grand ceremonial reception awaits Shaikh Mohammad at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's House) this morning where both Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will formally receive him.

The Vice-President of the UAE is being accompanied by seven ministers, senior officials and business and media delegations on the visit that New Delhi hopes will turn out to be a landmark one.

Shaikh Mohammad's flight landed at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport around 6pm (IST) and he drove straight to the Hotel Maurya Sheraton in a black Presidential limousine.

Shaikh Mohammad has a hectic schedule today. Besides addressing a gathering of top Indian business leaders he will hold meetings with the Indian President, Singh, the ruling United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and leader of the Indian opposition Lal Krishna Advani.

One-to-one meeting

The most significant part of his visit is slated to take place at Hyderabad House where he will have a one-to-one meeting with the Indian Prime Minister followed by a delegation-level meeting. The two countries will sign various agreements to further boost Indo-UAE ties. Singh will host a dinner for the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

"It's a landmark visit. Shaikh Mohammad is a visionary leader and has been playing a significant role in Asia. Although India-UAE ties are very old, we are having the best of ties right now," Minister Ahamed told Gulf News, hailing him as the architect of improved Indo-UAE bilateral ties.

"I told him that we are happy receiving him and that we had been looking forward to his historic visit for a long time. He told me that for this reason only he decided to visit India," Minister Ahamed said.

"Shaikh Mohammad has tremendous foresight and experience. We expect his visit will give further synergy to the already booming trade-ties between the countries.

"We will try and convince him that India is a good partner to do business with and hope it will lead to further momentum in the UAE investing in India and Indian industries investing in the UAE," Arun Patankar, co-chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industries Gulf Council said.

This is Shaikh Mohammad's second official visit to India, coming after a gap of 33 years.