UAE signs 14 agreements with India

New Delhi: The UAE and India on Wednesday added a new momentum to their deepening bilateral engagement, signing a total of 14 wide-ranging agreements including a strategic comprehensive partnership and deals on defence and maritime cooperation. 

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, witnessed the exchange of the memorandums of understanding with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sprawling Hyderabad House in the heart of the Indian capital New Delhi.

Shaikh Mohammad, who will be the chief guest at the 68th Indian Republic Day celebrations on Thursday, welcomed the strengthening bond between the UAE and India and praised the new impetus in bilateral ties.

Modi, in a speech following the exchange of the MoUs, said: "The UAE is one of our most valued partners and a close friend in an important region of the world. I have just concluded very fruitful and productive discussions with His Highness [Shaikh MOhammad Bin Zayed]. We particularly focused on implementation of various decisions taken during our last two meetings. We agreed to sustain the momentum of our relations in key areas, including energy and investments." 

List of agreements

1.Comprehensive strategic partnership between the UAE and India

2.Technology development and cooperation in cyberspace

3.Cooperation in defence industry

4.Agreement on strategic oil storage and management

5.Institutional cooperation on maritime transport

6.Mutual recognition of certificates of competency as per STCW provisions

7.Bilateral cooperation in road transport and highways

8.MoU on prevention and combating of human trafficking

9.MoU on cooperation in small and medium industries and innovation

10.Partnership in agriculture and allied sectors

11.Mutual exemption of visa for diplomatic, special and official passport holders

12.Agreement on trade remedial measures

13.Cooperation on energy efficiency services

14.MoU on cooperation in programme exchange