Indian Minister of State for Defence Ajay Seth has taken significant strides in strengthening defence cooperation between India and the United Arab Emirates during his official visit to Dubai. The high-profile engagement featured a strategic industry roundtable that brought together key stakeholders from both nations.
Strengthening Bilateral Defence Relations
The industry roundtable, chaired by Minister Seth on the second day of his Dubai visit, served as a crucial platform for enhancing defence industrial cooperation. This important gathering occurred on Wednesday and marked a pivotal moment in the evolving defence partnership between India and the UAE.
The roundtable witnessed participation from more than thirty industry representatives from both Indian and UAE defence sectors. This diverse representation included major Indian defence companies such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), and BEML Limited, showcasing India's commitment to expanding its defence manufacturing footprint internationally.
Comprehensive Dialogue and Collaboration Opportunities
During the intensive discussions, Minister Seth emphasized the growing strategic partnership between India and UAE across multiple domains. The dialogue focused on identifying concrete areas for collaboration in defence manufacturing and exploring opportunities for joint ventures between the two nations.
The minister highlighted India's remarkable progress in defence manufacturing and the country's evolving position as a significant defence exporter. He specifically pointed to India's defence exports, which have surged past the Rs 21000 crore mark, demonstrating the nation's growing capabilities in this critical sector.
Participants engaged in detailed discussions about potential collaboration areas, including technology transfer, co-development projects, and investment opportunities. The roundtable provided an excellent opportunity for industry leaders to network and establish meaningful connections that could lead to future partnerships.
Broader Diplomatic Engagements
Beyond the industry roundtable, Minister Seth's visit included several other significant engagements that underscored the comprehensive nature of India-UAE relations. The minister held crucial meetings with senior UAE government officials, including Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, Secretary General of the Tawazun Council, and Dr. Mubarak Saeed Al Jabri, the Assistant Undersecretary for Support and Defence Industries.
These high-level discussions focused on enhancing defence industrial cooperation and exploring new avenues for collaboration. The meetings reflected the mutual commitment of both nations to deepen their strategic partnership in defence and security matters.
The visit represents a significant step forward in implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that India and UAE established in 2017. Both nations have been steadily expanding their cooperation across various sectors, with defence emerging as a key area of mutual interest and potential growth.
This engagement in Dubai follows the productive visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in January 2024, which further solidified the bilateral relationship. The consistent high-level exchanges between the two countries demonstrate the strong foundation upon which future collaborations can be built.
The successful roundtable and associated meetings have laid the groundwork for enhanced defence industrial cooperation that could significantly benefit both nations. As India continues to position itself as a global defence manufacturing hub, partnerships with strategic allies like the UAE become increasingly important for mutual economic growth and regional security stability.
