PM Modi calls for peace, open Hormuz route
New Delhi: India and the United Arab Emirates on Friday signed key agreements on defence cooperation, energy security, maritime infrastructure and investments during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi.
The agreements included a framework for a bilateral strategic defence partnership, long-term supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), expansion of strategic petroleum reserves and investment commitments worth $5 billion in Indian infrastructure, RBL Bank and Samman Capital.
An agreement was also signed for setting up a ship repair cluster at Vadinar in Gujarat.
During delegation-level talks, Prime Minister Modi said India stood “shoulder-to-shoulder” with the UAE and would continue to support efforts for peace and stability in the region.
“For the restoration of peace and stability, India will extend all possible cooperation,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain “free and open” and underscored the importance of respecting international law.
The two countries also agreed on cooperation in defence manufacturing, military training, maritime security, cyber defence and secure communication systems under the strategic defence partnership framework.
Another agreement focused on collaboration between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to strengthen India’s energy security and expand strategic petroleum reserves.
India and the UAE also signed a long-term LPG supply agreement aimed at ensuring stable energy supplies amid global volatility.
In the technology sector, the two sides agreed to establish an eight Exaflop supercomputer cluster involving India’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing and UAE-based G42.
The visit also saw an arrangement on skill development in ship repair to strengthen India’s maritime workforce and support the government’s Make in India initiative.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in the UAE earlier in the day and held bilateral talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Prime Minister is on a five-nation tour from May 15 to 20 covering the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
