Roundtable Highlights AP’s Centrality in UAE-India Partnership
By : MD Ilyas
Update: 2024-08-01 17:01 GMT
VIJAYAWADA: UAE’s ambassador to India Dr Abdulnasser Alshaali underlined the centrality of Andhra Pradesh within the UAE-India strategic partnership. He emphasised on the need to increase people-to-people, economic and investment partnerships.
Dr. Alshaali was participating in an Economic and Investment Roundtable organised jointly by the UAE Embassy in Delhi, UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) and Government of Andhra Pradesh in Vijayawada on Thursday.
The UAE ambassador said Andhra Pradesh is UAE’s 11th largest trading partner among India’s 28 states and eight union territories, with the total trade reaching USD 1.46 billion during the 2023–2024 fiscal. Over the same period, bilateral trade between the UAE and India stood at USD 83.64 billion. He pointed out that the UAE is India’s second-largest export destination, third-largest trading partner, and fourth-largest investor.
Dr Alshaali maintained that it is essential to increase the level of economic and investment collaboration between the UAE and Andhra Pradesh. He said participation of more than 10 major UAE companies at the Vijayawada roundtable is an attestation of AP’s significance in the gamut of things. He affirmed UAE’s willingness towards supporting the state government’s ambitious investment and developmental agenda.
The ambassador disclosed that improving air connectivity between UAE and Andhra Pradesh is critical to increase people-to-people engagement and to spur direct investment. It indicated that UAE carriers could undertake up to 35 direct flights per week to Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati, which would increase passenger flow to over 500,000 per annum at Andhra Pradesh’s airports. Direct air links between UAE and AP would not only increase consumer choice and economic opportunities for people of Andhra Pradesh, but also enhance the state’s position as a vital regional and international aviation hub.
In his remarks, UICC director Aljneibi presented an overview of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and highlighted the ability of the business community in AP to leverage not only CEPA but other bilateral initiatives to expand their investment presence in the UAE.
During the roundtable, several UAE companies outlined their investment plans in both Andhra Pradesh and India. A highly interactive discussion took place between participants from both sides on cooperation in a range of sectors, including agriculture and food processing, aviation and aerospace, biotechnology, electronics and IT, automotives, petroleum and petrochemicals, and shipping, logistics, and ports.
Dr Alshaali and AP minister for industries, commerce and food processing T.G. Bharath co-chaired the roundtable. Participants from UAE included representatives of UAE companies, Abu Dhabi Ports, Air Arabia, Aramex, DP World, DUCAB, Emaar, Emirates Airlines, Emirates NBD, FlyDubai, the Lulu Group, and Tabreed. AP’s participants included 50 senior government officials and representatives of various business organisations.
The UAE ambassador said Andhra Pradesh is UAE’s 11th largest trading partner among India’s 28 states and eight union territories, with the total trade reaching USD 1.46 billion during the 2023–2024 fiscal. Over the same period, bilateral trade between the UAE and India stood at USD 83.64 billion. He pointed out that the UAE is India’s second-largest export destination, third-largest trading partner, and fourth-largest investor.
Dr Alshaali maintained that it is essential to increase the level of economic and investment collaboration between the UAE and Andhra Pradesh. He said participation of more than 10 major UAE companies at the Vijayawada roundtable is an attestation of AP’s significance in the gamut of things. He affirmed UAE’s willingness towards supporting the state government’s ambitious investment and developmental agenda.
The ambassador disclosed that improving air connectivity between UAE and Andhra Pradesh is critical to increase people-to-people engagement and to spur direct investment. It indicated that UAE carriers could undertake up to 35 direct flights per week to Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati, which would increase passenger flow to over 500,000 per annum at Andhra Pradesh’s airports. Direct air links between UAE and AP would not only increase consumer choice and economic opportunities for people of Andhra Pradesh, but also enhance the state’s position as a vital regional and international aviation hub.
In his remarks, UICC director Aljneibi presented an overview of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and highlighted the ability of the business community in AP to leverage not only CEPA but other bilateral initiatives to expand their investment presence in the UAE.
During the roundtable, several UAE companies outlined their investment plans in both Andhra Pradesh and India. A highly interactive discussion took place between participants from both sides on cooperation in a range of sectors, including agriculture and food processing, aviation and aerospace, biotechnology, electronics and IT, automotives, petroleum and petrochemicals, and shipping, logistics, and ports.
Dr Alshaali and AP minister for industries, commerce and food processing T.G. Bharath co-chaired the roundtable. Participants from UAE included representatives of UAE companies, Abu Dhabi Ports, Air Arabia, Aramex, DP World, DUCAB, Emaar, Emirates Airlines, Emirates NBD, FlyDubai, the Lulu Group, and Tabreed. AP’s participants included 50 senior government officials and representatives of various business organisations.