The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India have signed a pact to establish a trans-continental trade corridor. This corridor aims to connect Europe with India, utilizing sea and rail routes through parts of the Middle East. The ambitious plan has received support from the United States and the European Union.
During India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE, the framework agreement was announced and released in a statement by the Indian foreign ministry. While few details were made public according to Reuters, the ministry’s statement highlighted that the agreement builds upon previous understandings and cooperation, fostering regional connectivity between India and the UAE.
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كان لقاءً ممتازاً مع أخي صاحب السمو الشيخ @MohamedBinZayed. إن الصداقة بين الهند والإمارات العربية المتحدة تنمو بشكل أقوى وأقوى، مما يفيد شعبينا بشكل كبير. pic.twitter.com/HSZlAZRmXX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2024
The trade corridor, initially announced in September at the G20 summit in New Delhi, is set to extend from India across the Arabian Sea to the UAE. From there, it will pass through Saudi Arabia before connecting with Jordan and Israel, ultimately reaching Europe.
The ministry’s statement however focuses solely on India and the UAE, highlighting their long-standing trade links and omitting any mention of other countries. Notably, the agreement on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor comes at a time of ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has lasted for more than four months.
During Modi’s visit to the UAE for the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024 in Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Modi engaged in discussions covering multiple dimensions of the UAE-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The leaders also deliberated on their respective countries’ development trajectories that aim to foster sustainable development and prosperity.
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