DUBAI India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday hailed India-UAE relations and made a strong pitch for investments in the manufacturing sector from Emirati businessmen, promising healthy business climate under a new ‘Make in India’ campaign recently launched by her government.
On a maiden trip to the UAE after becoming minister in May, Swaraj held a series of bilateral meetings with the UAE ministers and officials in Abu Dhabi. She held talks with Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister. Later in the day, she met Emirati businessmen and invited them to invest in India.
“I understand the apprehensions in the minds of some of you regarding your past experiences of investments in India. But let me assure you that our government is committed to honour the commitments made and opening up of sectors for foreign investment,” Swaraj told the top business leaders in Abu Dhabi.
In the evening, Swaraj met Indian business leaders at a reception organised by the Indian Consulate in Dubai. “Economy has grown, Sensex is rising and business sentiment is good and our government is committed to growth and good governance,” she said urging Indian businessmen to invest in India.
Addressing the Indian diaspora in the UAE, she said: “Welfare of NRIs is top priority and Indian government is in continuous dialogue with UAE on community welfare.” Sustained remittances by Indians in the UAE have contributed massively to India’s forex reserves, she said.
Earlier, addressing the reception, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, said: “We rejoice in being India’s largest trading partner.” Both countries have reached an understanding on various issues and are bonded by a special relationship. “We enjoy your movies as well,” he added.
Indian Ambassador T.P. Seeth-aram and Consul General Anurag Bhushan also attended the reception.
