(Image source from: Gulf News)
The announcement of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United Arab Emirates this weekend is exciting Indian expats, despite him not holding a public meeting this time, which many NRIs were hoping for.
Narendra Modi is scheduled to reach the UAE on Friday and will hold official meetings in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced.
“There will be delegation-level talks with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, as well as the presentation of the Order of Zayed, the highest civil decoration of the UAE on the PM followed by a banquet hosted in honour of the Prime Minister,” announced T.S. Tirumurti, secretary, economic relations, at MEA.
Tirumurti said a commemorative stamp of Mahatma Gandhi will be released on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary.
“Arrangements for the launch of RuPay card in the UAE will also be put in place,” he added.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri tweeted that the visit will be “another important milestone in India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UAE.”
Look forward to the visit of PM @narendramodi to UAE on August 23-24. Another important milestone in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He will also receive the Sheikh Zayed Medal, UAE'S highest civilian award.
— IndAmbUAE (@navdeepsuri) August 19, 2019
Modi’s visit marks “truly an amazing and remarkable phase in the long and historic relationship between two great countries,” Yousuf Ali M.A., chairman and managing director of Lulu Group was quoted as saying by Gulf News.
“The third visit of PM Modi to the UAE emphatically underlines the importance and respect India has for the UAE. Obviously, the highlight of the visit is the presentation of the Zayed Medal, the highest civilian honor of the UAE, and I see this as an honor for India and [all the] Indians residing here in the most harmonious, peaceful, prosperous and tolerant country in the world,” he said.
“I would say this is the golden era of UAE-Indo trade relationship and that is aptly visible in many sectors, right from oil to trade, infrastructure development to tourism and aviation,” he added.
Kamal Vachani, group director of Al Maya and chairman of the Dubai chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, was quoted by Gulf News, saying the visit will further boost economic relations between India and UAE.
“Both countries already enjoy a great relationship with a large Indian population in the UAE. The Indian businessmen here enjoy a great atmosphere living and doing business in the UAE. We are looking forward to better trade and investment ties between the two countries with this visit,” said Vachani.
Adeeb Ahmad, MD, LuLu Financial Group and Twenty14 Holdings, said the visit is an affirmation of the close-knit ties between the two countries.
“We are truly blessed to be a part of the prolific UAE-India growth story and we look forward to having a truly fruitful visit by the prime minister. We are confident that this visit will also provide further momentum to increase trade and investment on both sides.”
Sudhesh Giriyan, CEO, Xpress Money, a Finablr company, welcomed the decision to launch the RuPay card in the UAE.
“Since the UAE has the largest Indian diaspora and witnesses thousands of Indian tourists every year, it is very relevant and timely to launch the card here. Indians domestically have enjoyed a host of benefits with the RuPay Card which will now be extended internationally.”
Dubai resident Sajeev Purushothaman was quoted by Gulf News saying: “It will be a proud moment for Indians when he receives the prestigious Zayed Medal. We are expecting our PM’s presence in the UAE next year again during Expo 2020 in Dubai and the opening of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.”
By Sowmya Sangam
