The UAE-India partnership took centre stage at the 31st Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, led the UAE delegation to the event. It was held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, on 12th and 13th November.

CII organised the summit in cooperation with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The department operates under India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The summit was held under the theme “Navigating the New World Order: Trade, Technology, Trust and Thought Leadership”. It brought together leaders, government officials, policymakers, investors and industry representatives from around the world. Participants exchanged views on opportunities and challenges across trade, technology, trust and thought leadership.

Bin Touq said the partnership between the UAE and India rests on deep-rooted historical ties. He pointed to longstanding cooperation across diverse economic fields and close links between the two peoples. He added that the relationship has developed significantly in recent years and has expanded into new economic sectors.

He described the summit as an important platform for exchanging insights and expertise on global economic shifts. It also allows both sides to explore ways to advance their cooperation and strengthen links between business communities. In addition, it helps identify opportunities in future sectors. These include the new economy, advanced industries, logistics, food security, financial services, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

Bin Touq attended two main sessions. The first was a ministerial session on global economic shifts and their implications for international cooperation. The second focused on elevating bilateral investment between India and the UAE.

During the ministerial session, he said the world is undergoing rapid economic shifts. According to him, these changes require continued development of international economic partnerships. He cited both the opportunities and challenges that arise from current changes and the reshaping of supply chains.

He also stressed that international cooperation is becoming more important for technology. This includes developing advanced industries and technologies, as well as harnessing artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Cooperation also matters for the transition to clean energy, food security and the skills needed for the economy of the future.

Bin Touq noted that the UAE and India have complementary strengths. The UAE offers advanced infrastructure, a strategic location and strong capabilities in logistics, energy and technology. India, meanwhile, brings skilled human resources, innovation capabilities and advanced expertise in technology and digital engineering.

“We are working to harness these strengths to establish joint projects, enhance production capabilities and expand cooperation in advanced industries and value-added sectors, supporting the competitiveness of both countries’ economies and strengthening their sustainable growth,” he said.

In the second session, Bin Touq outlined the UAE’s most promising economic opportunities. He also described the competitive advantages available to investors and companies seeking to expand. These include a flexible legislative and regulatory environment, open economic policies, advanced infrastructure and measures that facilitate doing business.

He also highlighted the support available to Indian companies looking to expand in the UAE market. The focus areas include the new economy, food, entrepreneurship, advanced technology, energy, logistics, manufacturing, supply chains, data centres and electronics.

The second session was attended by T. G. Bharath, Minister for Industries, Commerce and Food Processing in the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Shashwat Goenka, Vice Chairman of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, also took part. Abhishek Dev, Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority under India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, was present as well. Dr P. N. S. V. Narasimham, President of Corporate Functions at Cyient, joined them.

The UAE delegation included government officials and diplomatic representatives. It also featured representatives of companies and economic institutions. These included Dubai Silicon Oasis, Sharaf Group, FADA Space, LuLu International, DP World and Gulftainer.

Overall, the summit gave both sides a platform to discuss the next phase of the UAE-India partnership. The focus on AI, digital infrastructure, data centres and advanced industries shows where cooperation may grow.

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