New Delhi, May 15 (FN Agency) President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended their best wishes to the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on being elected as the new President of the United Arab Emirates. In separate messages, the two said they are confident that under Sheikh Mohamed’s leadership the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to strengthen. President Kovind, who is travelling to Jamaica and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, in a tweet said: “I convey best wishes to the Ruler of Abu Dhabi H.H. @MohamedBinZayed on being elected as the President of the UAE. “I am confident that India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to strengthen under his leadership.” PM Modi, in a similar message, said: “My best wishes to the Ruler of Abu Dhabi H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on being elected as the new President of the UAE. “I am confident that under his dynamic and visionary leadership, our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to deepen. @MohamedBinZayed.” The UAE Federal Supreme Council, which comprises the rulers of the seven emirates, unanimously named Sheikh Mohamed the third president, following the death of his half brother Sheikh Khalifa. Sheikh Mohamed said he was honoured at the trust invested in him by his brothers.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 61, known as MBZ, who was the de facto leader of the UAE, has led a realignment of the Middle East that has led to creation of a new anti-Iran axis with Israel and has fought a rising tide of political Islam in the region. India on Saturday observed a day of national mourning on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa, with flags flown half mast throughout the country and there was no official entertainment held. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu is travelling to the UAE on Sunday to offer condolences on behalf of the Government of India to the UAE leadership on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. On Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar signed the condolence book at the UAE Embassy here on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa. The EAM in tweets said India will always be thankful for his vision and leadership that has brought the two countries closer. “Signed the condolence book at the Embassy of United Arab Emirates, extending our deepest condolences on the passing away of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, late President of the UAE. “We will always be thankful for his vision and leadership that has brought our countries so close. We best honor him by taking forward the India-UAE Strategic Partnership.” President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed condolences at the demise of Sheikh Khalifa. In their messages, they noted that he was a statesman and a visionary leader and recalled his contribution to the strengthening of India-UAE bilateral relations and the welfare of the Indian community in UAE, an official statement said.
Over 3,420,000 Indian expats are estimated to be living in the UAE, which is over 38 percent of the total population of the UAE. On February 18, PM Modi and the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (who is now the Abu Dhabi ruler and UAE President) held a Virtual Summit during which they issued a Joint Vision Statement “Advancing the India and UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: New Frontiers, New Milestone”. The Statement establishes a roadmap for a future-oriented partnership between India and UAE and identifies focus areas and outcomes. The shared objective is to promote new trade, investment and innovation dynamic in diverse sectors, including economy, energy, climate action, emerging technologies, skills and education, food security, healthcare and defence and security. A major highlight of the Virtual Summit was the signing and exchange of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his UAE counterpart Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri in the virtual presence of the two Leaders. The Agreement aims to provide significant benefits to Indian and UAE businesses, including enhanced market access and reduced tariffs. The CEPA targets increase in bilateral trade from the current USD 60 billion to USD 100 billion in the next five years.