Uae Foreign Minister Visits India
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PUBLICATION OF THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA IN DUBAI ◆ SAATHI: Community initiative for parents of children with special needs ◆ SEZs: The new growth hubs of India ◆ Indian firms buy 143 companies in US VOL. 1 ISSUE 4 JULY 2009 UAEUAE FOREIGNFOREIGN MINISTERMINISTER VISITSVISITS INDIAINDIA Indian Minister of State for External Affairs visits Dubai FROM THE CONSUL GENERAL’S DESK India Matters is a monthly publication of the I am very happy to bring to you the fourth issue of India Matters. Consulate General of India India-UAE relations got off to a terrific start in June with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (CGI) in Dubai. All rights visiting India and Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Shashi Tharoor travelling to Dubai. reserved. No part of this journal HE Sheikh Abdullah was the first Foreign Minister to pay an official visit to India after the new government assumed may be produced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any contents office, while Dubai was the first stop of Dr. Tharoor’s maiden trip abroad as Minister of State for External Affairs. means – electronic, mechanical, HE Sheikh Abdullah met Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and newly appointed Minister for External photocopying, recording or Affairs S.M. Krishna in New Delhi. He also called on Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah and otherwise, without the discussed ways in which bilateral cooperation could be enhanced. permission of the CGI Dubai. Dr. Shashi Tharoor met UAE Minister for Foreign Trade HE Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister for Cabinet Affairs HE Mohammad Al Gergawi and UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research HH Sheikh Editorial correspondence and Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, during his brief stay in Dubai. He also took this opportunity to speak to the press and meet manuscripts can be addressed to Arab dignitaries as well as prominent members of the Indian Community at a reception held in his honour. He then pro- [email protected] ceeded to Yemen to attend the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation ministerial meeting, where he again Content and design by IANS had the opportunity to meet HE Mohammad Anwar Gargash , UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and leader of the (www.ianspublishing.com) UAE delegation. on behalf of Consulate The Consulate launched a ‘How to prevent sunstroke’ information campaign this month with the aim of promoting General of India in Dubai. knowledge regarding heat-related ailments. The campaign coincides with the UAE Labour Ministry’s renewal of its midday break rule from July 1, which puts a halt on outdoor work for labourers from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Posters and leaflets, pre- pared in collaboration with the Association of Kerala Medical Graduates are being distributed to various contracting compa- nies and employers of Indian labour. Any individual or organisation keen on distributing these posters and pamphlets are welcome to contact the labour section of the Consulate. UAE Foreign Minister visits India 4 UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan became the first Foreign Minister to visit India after the new Government took charge. (Venu Rajamony) INDIA-UAE 6 Indian Minister of State for External Affairs meets UAE Ministers in Dubai LETTERS TO EDITOR COMMUNITY India Matters is a wonderful publication, which elaborately showcases the latest developments and happenings in India, as New community initiative well as in the Indian community in the UAE. I am sure an endeavour like this will boost Indo-UAE socio-economic and business 10 relationships. SAATHI launched for parents Mohammed Saeed Al Dhanhani of children with special needs Director of Emiri Court BUSINESS & ECONOMY The third issue of India Matters is very interesting, and has topics pertaining to newly elected Congress cabinet members and the remarkable first woman Speaker of the Indian Parliament Meira Kumar. The magazine is making commendable efforts in promot- 14 Govt unveils 100-day ing bilateral business, and bridging the culture gap between UAE and India. agenda Mohammed Ahmed Kazim TRAVEL: NAUKUCHIATAL UAE Businessman President Pratibha Patil unveils 100-day action plan of the Government The Omar Abdullah interview in the June issue was rather interesting. I didn’t read it in any local publication. India Matters covers a wide range of information about the Indian Consulate and Embassy. The travel pages also make a good read. It is a 20 great way of showcasing India. I would like to congratulate the team for their efforts. BUSINESS & ECONOMY Srikant Ramamurthy 18 SEZs: India’s new Student Being from Luxembourg and living in the UAE for more than 15 years, I can proudly count many Indians in the expatriate commu- growth hubs nity as my friends. India Matters, published under the visionary guidance of HE Venu Rajamony, gives us an insight of what mat- India’s special economic zones have not ters in India and for Indians abroad. This magazine will foster the existing strong relations between India and the UAE. only shrugged off the global meltdown, but also emerged as major job generators, Jean-Marie Hoffmann apart from attracting billions of dollars in Executive Vice President investments and pushing exports. Banque Pasche SA Geneva 2| INDIA MATTERS INDIA MATTERS|3 JULY 2009 JULY 2009 COVER STORY Sheikh Abdullah meeting Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah (right) in New Delhi on June 12. The UAE has committed $50 million lowed by steady government support of per year over the next seven years to finance more than $2 million annually. renewable energy projects in developing “Since ages, India has had good relations nations as recommended by IRENA. The with UAE. The UAE Minister expressed UAE will also provide $135 million cash confidence that working together in the and in-kind support to IRENA during its renewable energy sector will bring India initial years of operation, fol- and UAE much closer,” New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said. The UAE is competing with three European countries to host the headquar- ters of IRENA. The Minister, during his interaction with thje UAE Foreign Minister, said the developing countries were more in need of Delegation level talks between the UAE renewable energy. and India during the visit of UAE Foreign “The cost of development and use of UAE and India to enhance Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al- renewable energy should be made afford- Nahyan to New Delhi. able for its use by developing countries,” The two sides agreed to enhance coop- Abdullah said. economic, energy ties eration in the energy sector, especially in India has always maintained that it renewable sources of energy. was imperative to ensure development of n the first visit to India by a foreign of multi-faceted bilateral relations. Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah and Renewable energy has emerged as an sources of clean energy, he added. minister since the formation of the They also discussed a host of regional called on Vice President Hamid Ansari. important area of engagement between the The Minister said the Clean new Government in India, United and global issues, including terrorism and “The visiting dignitary also conveyed two countries. The UAE’s Foreign Minister Development Mechanism (CDM) financ- Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign the global economic downturn and focused that UAE was looking for more opportuni- asked for New Delhi’s support for locating ing for generating renewable energy should Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin on new avenues of cooperation, especially ties for investment in infrastructure and the headquarters of the International be made more attractive. IZayed Al-Nahyan called for scaling up eco- in the domain of trade and economy. other areas in India,” the Ministry of Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Under the CDM mechanism, developed nomic and energy ties and sought New Sheikh Abdullah lauded the role of over External Affairs said in New Delhi. Abu Dhabi. countries can invest in projects that reduce Delhi’s help to develop renewable energy. 1.5 million Indians in the UAE for their The UAE has invested over $4.5 billion Mandated by governments worldwide, emissions in developing countries. The UAE’s Foreign Minister, who con- contribution to the development of the in India and is among the top 10 investors. IRENA aims at becoming the main driving India is known for its expertise in the cluded his two-day visit to India on June Gulf country’s economy and building bet- Sheikh Abdullah invited Indian Vice force in promoting a rapid transition renewable energy sector. It is among a 12, met his Indian counterpart S.M. ter relations between the two countries. President Ansari and Foreign Minister towards the widespread and sustained use handful of countries which has got a Krishna and discussed a further expansion He also met Minister for New and Krishna to visit the Gulf country. of renewable energy across the world. Sheikh Abdullah (left) with S.M. Krishna. separate ministry for renewable energy. ! 4| INDIA MATTERS INDIA MATTERS|5 JULY 2009 JULY 2009 INDIA-UAE substantial investments in sectors such as Indian Minister of State for External infrastructure and hospitality in India.” Addressing the concerns of Indian expa- Affairs meets UAE Ministers in Dubai triates returning to the country in view of the current economic crisis, the Minister said the new government would take ade- quate measures to rehabilitate Indians returning home from the Gulf and other foreign countries. “India is cautious about losing their valuable contribution (in the form of remittances) and the potential problems the non-residents Indians will face. But the country will not lose interest in them, and the Government will not be indifferent to their problems,” Dr.