UAE-India are committed to raise bilateral trade, says Indian consul general in Dubai

How does the consulate plan to celebrate India’s 75th Independence Day?

The Government of India has launched the unique India@75 — Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav — initiative. A series of cultural events and digital initiatives will be organised to celebrate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.

The consulate hosts the largest Indian community of 2.6 million in Dubai and the northern emirates and we aspire to celebrate this occasion with participation from the Emirati as well as the Indian community members over the next two years. The consulate has started organising several events to mark this special occasion such as essay and quiz competitions, screening of documentaries, and art and craft exhibitions. These celebrations will extend through the India pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai that will be showcasing the rich culture and heritage of India. The pavilion will see participation from state governments, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) as well as renowned personalities in the field of art, cinema, literature and fashion. A joint celebration will also be organised to mark the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s National Day and 75 years of India’s independence, showcasing the deep historic bond and friendship between India and the UAE.

What kind of activities have you organised in the past seven months of this year to promote UAE-India bilateral trade and relations as well as to better connect with the community amid Covid-19?

The UAE is an important partner in India’s growth, and a gateway to the Middle East and North Africa region for Indian goods and services. India and the UAE are committed to raise the level of pre-Covid bilateral trade of $60 billion (Dh220.3 billion), and facilitate investments of $75 billion in the next few years. During the last seven months, amid the Covid-19-related restrictions, we organised an interactive session comprising leading members of the Indian business community from various sectors in Dubai. This was organised during the visit of V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs of India, to Dubai in January. India participated at Gulfood 2021 earlier this year with the Indian Chamber of Commerce, and with support from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Around 40 Indian MSME companies from the agro food processing sector set up their stalls and exhibited their products and services at Gulfood.

Recently, we hosted a business meet in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai, and Korea International Trade Association MENA at the Indian Consulate that was attended by leading Indian and Korean entrepreneurs and business professionals in Dubai. We intend to organise more such interactive sessions with other countries in the run-up to Expo 2020 Dubai. ■