India and the UAE step up economic, consular and regulatory cooperation as trade crosses USD 100 billion, reaffirming a fast-growing strategic partnership built on strong political, commercial and community ties….reports Asian Lite News
India and the United Arab Emirates have moved to deepen economic, consular and regulatory cooperation after a series of high-level meetings in Abu Dhabi and New Delhi reaffirmed the strength of their fast-expanding partnership. The latest talks come against the backdrop of an extraordinary surge in bilateral trade, which has crossed the USD 100 billion mark for the first time, underscoring the UAE’s position as one of India’s most important economic partners.
At the third meeting of the Joint Committee under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), senior officials from both nations took stock of progress under the landmark deal and sketched out an ambitious roadmap for the coming years. The meeting was co-chaired by Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, and Juma Al Kait, the UAE’s Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs. Both sides welcomed the strong momentum in trade, which rose by 19.6 per cent in FY 2024–25 to reach USD 100.06 billion.
The committee undertook a detailed review of market access issues, data sharing, services, Rules of Origin, anti-dumping concerns, BIS licensing and the allocation of the Gold Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ). India informed its counterparts that the Gold TRQ would now be allocated through a transparent competitive bidding process — a move expected to streamline access for traders while safeguarding domestic industry.
Recent top-level engagements were also reviewed, including meetings between India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, in Mumbai and Dubai. Both sides reiterated their ambition to boost non-oil, non-precious metal trade and work towards the USD 100 billion target for such trade categories by 2030, signalling a shared determination to diversify away from hydrocarbons.
Regulatory cooperation in pharmaceuticals, coordination on Certificates of Origin and the early signing of a new MoU on Food Safety and Technical Requirements between India’s APEDA and the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment also featured prominently. New Delhi has repeatedly highlighted the UAE’s rising investment profile, with Commerce Minister Goyal noting earlier this year that FDI and portfolio inflows from the Gulf nation were poised for a significant increase in the near future.
Consular, visa, legal domains
Alongside the CEPA review, India and the UAE also held the sixth Meeting of the Joint Committee on Consular Affairs (JCCA) in Abu Dhabi, where officials agreed on enhanced cooperation across consular, visa and legal domains. The discussions covered issues ranging from consular access and information sharing to visa liberalisation, extradition procedures and the creation of an institutionalised review mechanism to maintain steady progress.
India expressed appreciation for the UAE leadership’s efforts to support the well-being of the large Indian community in the Emirates, describing the diaspora as a crucial bridge between the two nations. The Ministry of External Affairs said the talks took place in an atmosphere of “traditional warmth and cooperation,” reflecting the strength of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Progress was recorded in four key areas: improved information flow and consular access; swifter cooperation on mutual legal assistance and extradition cases; liberalisation of visa policies; and agreement on closer institutional oversight. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety and dignity of citizens living in each other’s countries.
The Indian delegation was led by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs), while the UAE side was headed by Omar Obaid AlHesan AlShamsi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The next JCCA meeting will take place in India in 2026.
During his visit, Chatterjee also toured the Consulate General of India in Dubai, meeting officials and reviewing initiatives under way to support Indian nationals in the UAE.
The strengthening of economic and consular mechanisms follows a year of intense diplomatic engagement. A phone call in July between Prime Minister Modi and President Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation across sectors, with both leaders highlighting the rapid advances being made under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The UAE President congratulated Modi on becoming India’s second-longest-serving prime minister, while both leaders agreed on the need to bolster ties to drive sustainable development and prosperity for their peoples.
