The upcoming India–UAE Economic Partnership Conclave, scheduled to be held in September in Agra, is set to provide a significant platform for strengthening trade, investment, and economic cooperation between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A preparatory brainstorming session and official launch ceremony for the conclave was held on 25^th August 2024 at Jaypee Palace Hotel, Agra, bringing together policymakers, industrialists, business leaders, and representatives from various sectors.

The event was organized by the Corporate Council for Leadership and Awareness (CCLA) with the objective of promoting stronger economic partnerships between the two nations and exploring new opportunities for trade, investment, technology exchange, and business collaboration.

Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Cabinet Minister Mrs. Baby Rani Maurya stated that India and the UAE have set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion, and the Government of India is continuously working towards achieving this milestone. She expressed confidence that initiatives such as the India–UAE Economic Partnership Conclave would play a crucial role in accelerating economic cooperation and strengthening commercial ties between the two countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Puran Dawar, chairman – CCLA & President of AFMEC, highlighted the growing strategic and economic relationship between India and the UAE. He noted that the UAE is India’s seventh-largest foreign investor, with a cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow of USD 16.67 billion between April 2000 and September 2023. He further emphasized that nearly 3.5 million Indians reside in the UAE, constituting approximately 30% of the country’s population, making the Indian diaspora one of the strongest pillars of bilateral relations.

A special highlight of the programme was the welcome accorded to Syed Salauddin, an Indian entrepreneur based in Dubai, who was honoured as a Cultural Ambassador of India for his efforts in promoting Indian culture and strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the UAE.

Several eminent personalities from the fields of education, industry, manufacturing, and business also addressed the gathering and shared their perspectives on enhancing Indo-UAE cooperation. Among them were Dr. Mukesh Sharma, Deputy Director, Ministry of Education, Government of India; Pushpendra Suryavanshi, Branch Manager, NSIC; Dr. Kumar Manoj; Deepak Manchanda, General Secretary, IFCOMA; Sanjay Agrawal, Vice Chairman, GD Goenka Group; Dr. Sushil Gupta, President, APSA; Rajesh Garg, Managing Director, Prakash Group; and Deepak Agrawal, State Vice President, Laghu Udyog Bharati.

The event concluded with an interactive discussion on strengthening trade partnerships, encouraging cross-border investments, promoting MSMEs, and creating new business opportunities between India and the UAE. Participants expressed optimism that the forthcoming conclave would serve as a landmark initiative in expanding bilateral economic cooperation and fostering long-term strategic partnerships.

The programme was expertly compered by renowned poet Pawan Agri. Guests were welcomed by Ajay Sharma, General Secretary, CCLA, along with Brajesh Sharma, Convener, and Dr. Ram Naresh Sharma, who extended their gratitude to all dignitaries and stakeholders for their support in making the initiative a success.