Modi Heads to UAE: Focus on Energy, Trade Expansion

In a move to elevate India-UAE strategic ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs for the UAE on Friday. This official visit seeks to advance the comprehensive partnership that has flourished across political, economic, and cultural domains, driving mutual growth. PM Modi’s centerpiece engagement is a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where they will deliberate on enhancing cooperation in energy, trade, and beyond. Officials note the UAE's pivotal role as India's third biggest trade partner, bolstered by a vibrant Indian diaspora of over 4.5 million. Key highlights include prospective agreements on LPG supplies and strategic oil storage, critical for India's energy resilience. Diaspora issues will also gain attention, ensuring better support for the community. The journey spans six dynamic days, starting post-UAE in the Netherlands. There, PM Modi—on his second trip since 2017—will confer with Dutch royalty and Prime Minister Rob Jetten on innovation and investment synergies. Sweden follows, with talks in Gothenburg alongside PM Ulf Kristersson, targeting expanded trade horizons. A joint address at the influential European Round Table for Industry, with Ursula von der Leyen in attendance, promises high-level industry insights. Norway hosts the third India-Nordic Summit next, featuring multiple bilateral huddles. The tour wraps in Italy, with meetings at the highest levels with President Sergio Mattarella and PM Giorgia Meloni, reinforcing Mediterranean-Indian Ocean linkages.