India’s relations with the UAE are expected to receive a boost this week with major energy and diplomatic discussions. During the week-long visit that began on Sunday, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed is scheduled to conclude a trilateral energy agreement and hold meetings with Chief Ministers of multiple States marking a renewed outreach to the States by the energy-rich country.
“This is the first time that a high official of the UAE will engage several State leaders of India in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties. Apart from the important energy pact, the UAE also looks for greater partnership with ISRO for its own Mars mission,” said a diplomatic source explaining the Minister’s agenda during the visit.
On Monday, energy giants Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Aramco will seal a trilateral agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. According to official sources, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan is also expected to be present alongside the visiting dignitary for the signing of the MoU for the proposed investment in Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.
He will also hold discussions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will interact with policy makers and scholars on Tuesday at the Indian Council of World Affairs.
Currency swap pact
Both sides are also expected to sign a currency swap agreement on Thursday. However, details of this agreement is yet to be known, especially since a similar agreement was signed on February 11, 2016 during the visit of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed of Abdu Dhabi to India.
A high point of the visit will be his interaction with the Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and a meeting with the Governor of Gujarat. He will meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday and hold consultations with Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday.
