Indian president concludes five-day UAE tour
Patil says large presence of Indian companies in the UAE help elevate economic partnership
Sharjah: Indian President Pratibha Patil on Thursday concluded her five-day visit to the UAE.
The president will travel to Syria this morning for an official visit, thus proceeding to the final segment of her tour before returning to India.
Patil inaugurated the India Trade and Exhibition Centre (ITEC) in Sharjah and interacted with Dubai's business community in a meeting hosted by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the final day of her visit.
"Trade and investment will be the cornerstone of [the India-UAE] partnership in the evolving global scenario," Patil said, emphasising that the bilateral trade between the two countries has climbed steadily over the years.
"While trade has been the bedrock of our economic partnership, strengthening of the flow of foreign direct investment between the two countries, can be another significant pillar of our relationship," she said.
Patil credited the persistent efforts of the trading community in both the countries for this. "There is potential for the current level of Indo-UAE trade to be boosted considerably in the coming years", she said, adding that she hoped that the large presence of Indian business companies in the UAE can act as a springboard to elevate economic partnership to new levels.
Exhibition centre
The first Indian President to visit Sharjah, Patil along with His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, unveiled the ITEC.
By holding industry and state specific exhibitions for an extended period of time, and providing office space to aspiring exporters from India, the centre will be able to meet the needs of trade bodies, she said. She also urged ITEC to work in close cooperation with similar centres in India.
ITEC, a non-profit organisation to whom the building was allotted by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will work to promote trade and investment between India-UAE, India-GCC and India-MENA countries by holding industry specific exhibitions on a regular basis.
