Regarding ties between India and the United Arab Emirates, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that throughout the past ten years, the Gulf nation’s view of India has significantly evolved.

During the South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce — Corporate Summit 2024 in Surat on Monday, Jaishankar made the following statement: “Over the past ten years, the UAE’s view of India has evolved. We inked a free trade agreement with them, and as of right now, we conduct business with the UAE for around 80 billion dollars.”

“Our request to build a temple there has been accepted…PM Narendra Modi went to UAE in 2016 and the last PM to go to the UAE was Indira Gandhi and after her, no PM went there till 2016” he pointed out.

On February 14, Mahant Swami Maharaj officially opened the historic BAPS Hindu Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, the UAE’s distinguished minister of tolerance and coexistence, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi were also present.

India and the United Arab Emirates inked a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) earlier in 2022.

The CEPA was signed during a meeting between the UAE delegation, which was headed by Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri, and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

Jaishankar further highlighted the fact that India is currently among the top 5 countries and would soon overtake the United States as the third-largest economy in the world.

“I greeted French President Emmanuel Macron at the airport in Jaipur on his Republic Day visit to India. He remarked, “I see that you have other airports besides the airports of big cities,” upon his first visit to Jaipur.

“Mr. President, you should also be aware that, over the past ten years, this nation has built eight to nine new airports annually. There were 75 airports in 2014; as of today, that number has quadrupled.” Jaishankar continued.

As the main guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, the French President travelled to India. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Macron a hearty welcome when he arrived at Kartavya Path. During the parade, Indian military marched alongside French contingents.

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Moreover, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit for Republic Day celebrations, India and France agreed on a strategy for their defense-industrial collaboration.