Crown Prince Al Maktoum's Visit to India Establishes IIM Ahmedabad and IIFT Campuses in Dubai

The visit of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to India on Tuesday led to several significant agreements. These include the establishment of ship-repair clusters in Kochi and Vadinar and the creation of an Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad campus in Dubai. These initiatives aim to enhance bilateral relations between the two nations.

During his visit, the Crown Prince met with key Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced plans for the first overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in Dubai and a new India-UAE friendship hospital in the city.

Strengthening Strategic Partnerships

In discussions with Defence Minister Singh, both parties explored ways to deepen their strategic defence and security partnership. Singh expressed India's eagerness to collaborate closely with the UAE in defence projects, including co-production and co-development. He emphasised that both nations are committed to regional peace and prosperity.

The MEA highlighted that these educational initiatives will strengthen ties between India and the UAE. They will also position Dubai as a key destination for Indian educational institutions. This follows the opening of the first IIT campus in Abu Dhabi last year, benefiting millions of Indians in the Gulf region.

Economic and Cultural Collaborations

Prime Minister Modi hosted a working lunch for Sheikh Hamdan at his residence. Modi shared on social media that Dubai has been instrumental in advancing the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. "Glad to meet HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai," Modi said. "Dubai has played a key role in advancing the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."

The Crown Prince also met with Commerce Minister Goyal during a business meeting in Mumbai. They discussed how the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has boosted bilateral trade. The MEA noted that these developments will further enhance trade relations between India and the UAE.

Historical Ties and Future Prospects

The Crown Prince presented Prime Minister Modi with a replica of his grandfather Sheikh Rashid's bisht, symbolising historic ties between India and the UAE. Additionally, he gifted an original newspaper article about his father's heroic efforts during an Indian Airlines incident in 1984.

The MEA stated that Cochin Shipyard Ltd and Drydocks World signed an MoU for developing ship repair clusters in Kochi and Vadinar. This collaboration aims to bring global best practices to India's ship repair industry and expand its capacity.

The announcements regarding Bharat Mart, Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC), and MAITRI interface underscore India's commitment to its trade relationship with the UAE. These initiatives are expected to boost bilateral trade beyond USD 97 billion, aiming for a non-oil trade target of USD 100 billion.

The visit by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum underscores the deep-rooted friendship between India and the UAE. It sets the stage for stronger collaboration across various sectors in the future.