Path-breaking India-UAE CEPA negotiated in just 88 days: DPIIT Secretary

Abu Dhabi [United Arab Emirates], May 8 : Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Th bin Ahmed Al Zeoudi jointly inaugurated various events to commemorate the first anniversary of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE.

Speaking at the event, Rajesh Kumar Singh highlighted how the path-breaking India-UAE CEPA, which was negotiated in just 88 days, has become a significant turning point in the bilateral economic relations between the two countries.

For India, the CEPA with UAE is the first in the region and for UAE, it is their first ever CEPA. Since the entry into force of CEPA, bilateral trade between India and UAE has witnessed tremendous growth of 20 per cent when compared to the previous year. India's exports to the UAE also recorded a remarkable growth of 12 per cent, reaching USD 31.3 billion in 2022-2023.

As part of the CEPA celebrations, Rajesh Kumar Singh inaugurated the Kerala Pavilion on Monday at the Annual Investment Meeting in Abu Dhabi. He held meetings with the senior leadership of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Mubadala, the top UAE investors in India.

Welcoming the surge in investments from the UAE to India, Rajesh Kumar Singh invited both compes to explore new sectors for investing in India, especially the renewable and digital sectors. The UAE is currently the seventh largest investor in India with an estimated investment of USD 18 billion.

Secretary, DPIIT will be inaugurating the International Jewellery Exposition Centre in Dubai on May 9. He will also be the Chief Guest for a multi-sectoral B-2-B event in Dubai orgsed by the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) on 9 May. Around 100 compes from India and UAE, including representatives of various Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) are expected to participate.

The "CEPA - Beyond Trade" commemorative event included food and fashion pavilions, sharing the success stories of the historic trade bonds between India and the UAE and panel discussions on future areas of cooperation.

The visit of the Secretary, DPIIT to UAE is his first official trip abroad since the assumption of office in April 2023, indicating the significance India attaches to the close relationship with UAE.

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