Thaindian News

By Praful Kumar Singh

Dubai, Nov 21 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, who embarked on her nine-day State visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Syrian Arab Republic on Sunday with the aim of increasing business and strengthening bilateral trade ties with both West Asian countries, arrived in Dubai.

President Patil’s November 21-25 visit to the UAE will be her first State Visit to a Gulf State while her November 26-29 visit to Syria will be the first ever visit by an Indian President to that country.

The Indian community in the UAE is 1.75 million strong and is the largest expatriate community of the region. The Gulf region is home to over five million-strong Indian Diaspora and the visit of President Patil will boost India’s multi-faceted ties with the West Asia region.

“I am confident, reaffirm India’s interest to strengthen ties with countries in these regions, which are a part of our extended neighbourhood,” she told reporters on board Air India One.

“India has enjoyed historic, warm, friendly and multifaceted relations with the UAE. These relations stretch back over millennia and our civilisational links are well known,” President Patil said.

The UAE is a significant trading and energy security partner, and bilateral trade was valued at 43.4 billion dollar in 2009-10. In 2009-10, the UAE had emerged as one of India’s top export destination, accounting for 13.41 per cent of the country’s total exports. The country is also among the top five suppliers of crude oil to India.

“I will also be interacting with the business community, both Indian and local, in the UAE. Our bilateral trade which stood at a modest figure of around 180 million dollar in the early seventies, is today valued at 43 billion dollar, which makes the UAE one of our leading trade partners,” she said.

Talking about the possibilities of further expanding India’s trade, President Patil said: “I will highlight the tremendous scope for investing in India’s infrastructure. Our fast growing stable economy with its strong fundamentals makes India an attractive investment destination.”

The UAE is a significant trading and energy security partner, and bilateral trade was valued at 43.4 billion dollar in 2009-10. In 2009-10, the UAE had emerged as India’s top export destination, accounting for 13.41 per cent of the country’s total exports. The country is also among the top five suppliers of crude oil to India.

Patil will spend two days in Abu Dhabi before moving onto Dubai and Sharjah. She will also visit the Abu Dhabi and Dubai chambers of commerce.

Minister of State for Power Bharatsinh Solanki, Rajya Sabha MP K A Ismael, Lok Sabha MPs Vijay Bahadur Singh and Masoom Noor will accompany the President.

The business delegation accompanying her includes members of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

In the second leg from November 26 to 29, President Patil will visit Syria at the invitation of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. This will be first Presidential visit to Syria from India.

In Syria, President Patil will hold talks with her counterpart Bashar al Assad, who had paid a State Visit to India in June 2008. (ANI)