H.E. Bin Touq holds meetings with Andhra Pradesh CM and Ministers of Commerce, IT, and Food Processing
Abu Dhabi: H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of Investopia, held four bilateral meetings with H.E. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh; H.E. T. G. Bharath, Minister of Industries, Commerce, and Food Processing; H.E. Nara Lokesh, Minister of Information Technology; and H.E. R. Mukundan, President‑designate of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2025-2026 term and CEO of Tata Chemicals Limited. The meetings aimed to enhance collaboration across priority areas such as the new economy, agriculture, food processing, fintech, the circular and green economy, innovation, entrepreneurship, and SMEs.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Investopia Global Talks held recently in Andhra Pradesh, bringing together over 200 business leaders, investors, innovators, officials, and decision-makers from both the UAE and India.
H.E. Bin Touq highlighted that the UAE and India share a comprehensive and advanced strategic partnership, aligning with the two leaderships' shared vision for sustainable economic development. H.E. emphasised that economic collaboration between the two nations continues to grow, adding further momentum to their exceptional partnership.
The Minister of Economy and Tourism said: 'India is a key economic and investment partner for the UAE. We look forward to fostering fruitful cooperation and forging new partnerships with our counterparts in the Indian government, while exploring promising opportunities for the business communities in both countries across sectors of mutual interest. This will help drive sustainable growth and shared prosperity in both nations.'
H.E. further added, 'India's Andhra Pradesh stands out for its strategic geographic location that connects local and global markets, its competitive strengths in agriculture and exports, and the presence of leading UAE companies across key sectors such as supply chains, food, industry, and logistics - including DP World, Sharaf, Tabreed, and Lulu. This meeting marks a significant step towards strengthening collaboration and expanding opportunities to advance public-private economic partnerships between the two nations, reinforcing integration across vital sectors that drive the growth and sustainability of both the UAE and Indian economies.'
National priorities for transitioning to sustainable economic models
H.E. Bin Touq's meeting with H.E. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, discussed national development policies and priorities for transitioning to sustainable and adaptable economic models. The meeting also explored the exchange of expertise in modern economic legislation aimed at encouraging UAE and Indian business communities to invest in future economic sectors and expand into international markets, leveraging their unique strengths.
Both sides underscored the significance of Andhra Pradesh hosting the Investopia Global Talks, offering a valuable platform for highlighting promising investment and economic opportunities, facilitating connectivity and communication between UAE and Indian investors, and creating new pathways for collaboration across vital sectors including technology, renewable energy, food, agriculture, and digital economies.
UAE's efforts in developing economic food cluster
During his meeting with H.E. T. G. Bharath, Minister for Industries, Commerce and Food Processing, H.E. bin Touq highlighted the UAE's efforts to develop a food cluster combining agricultural production, food industries, and latest agricultural technology within a unified ecosystem based on collaboration and integration. These efforts enhance the national economy's competitiveness and empower private sector companies in food sector and related activities.
Strengthening cooperation on digital economy
In a sperate meeting, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq and H.E. Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, explored the importance of collaborative efforts in digital economy and adopting modern technologies as key enablers of growth in vital economic sectors. Both sides emphasized that digital transformation directly contributes to building more efficient business environments and enhances innovation, competitiveness, and productivity.
The Minister of Economy and Tourism also met with H.E. R. Mukundan, President‑designate of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the 2025-2026 term, to explore avenues for enhancing economic and investment collaboration between the UAE and India. The meeting focused on strengthening public-private partnerships across innovation, industry, technology, entrepreneurship, while also discussing the means to enhance the food sector and growth of SMEs.
The meeting highlighted the importance of continued dialogue between governmental entities and business communities in enhancing the food sector and enabling SMEs to play a stronger role in driving economic growth and achieving sustainable development.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Private equity investment in Indian real estate declines in H1 of 2025
Private equity (PE) investment in Indian real estate during the first half (H1) of 2025 reflects a market at an inflection point. Not only have the volumes receded sharply, but the very assumptions underpinning investor decision-making are undergoing a foundational rethink, according to Knight Frank India survey on the trends in PE investments in Indian real estate during H1 2025. After a robust showing in 2024 with $4.9 billion in inflows, PE investments in H1 2025 dropped by 41% YoY to $1.7 billion. The number of deals also fell steeply, from 24 in H1 2024 to just 12 in H1 2025. This slowdown is not merely due to cyclical caution; rather, it reflects a structural recalibration in the cost of capital, return expectations, and comparative risk appetite among global investors and domestic institutions. However, India's real estate fundamentals remain intact. Residential sales volumes have held firm, and office absorption has been underpinned by demand from GCCs and technology occupiers. However, the capital market's response has been more cautious. Investors have shown a clear preference for structured equity, credit-backed instruments, and platform-level transactions with predictable exit. In H1 2025, Mumbai led PE inflows with $467.5 million, closely followed by Bengaluru at $452.5 million. Hyderabad with $258.6 million and Pune with $134 million also attracted meaningful capital, while Chennai received $50 million. Together the South Indian cities captured over 60% of the total investments, underscoring a sustained regional shift in institutional investor preference. Private equity investment in the India office real estate sector in H1 2025 reflects a measured optimism shaped by asset quality, market positioning, and long-term tenancy profiles. In H1 2025, the office sector attracted $706 million in PE investments across three transactions, up 22% YoY in comparison to $579 million received in H1 2024. The underlying nature of these transactions points to concentrated, strategic capital allocations rather than broadbased market retrenchment. Another key shift in H1 2025 is the near parity between investments in ready and under-construction assets. Of the $706 million deployed, roughly 50% was directed toward underconstruction developments up from just 23% in H1 2024. Private equity (PE) investments in India's residential real estate sector during H1 2025 reflects a cautious yet selective deployment approach. At $500 million across six transactions, investment volumes fell by 41% YoY from H1 2024 levels. However, the overall trajectory should not be read as weakening sentiment, but rather a sharpening of focus on risk-mitigated, structured entry routes in mid-income and premium segments. H1 2025 saw a distinct reversal to debt-heavy structures, with 60% of capital deployed in debt as compared to 40% in H1 2024. Following a sustained run of high investor interest, the Indian warehousing sector entered a period of reflection in H1 2025. Capital inflows dropped to a decade low of $50 million, with only one transaction recorded during the first half marking a dramatic 97% decline compared to $1.5 billion H1 2024. While such sharp fluctuations are not uncommon in a sector dominated by platform-level deals, the current slowdown also signals a temporary reassessment of growth assumptions amid a shifting capital landscape. In contrast to H1 2024, which was dominated by large-scale acquisition of ready assets ($1.5 billion), H1 2025's sole transaction was in the new development category, valued at just $50 million. No deals were recorded in the ready or under- construction categories this half-year, which underlines a pause in brownfield capital deployment and a return to early-stage underwriting. After a prolonged lull, India's retail real estate sector staged a meaningful comeback in H1 2025, with private equity inflows reaching $480 million, a sharp recovery from zero deal activity in 2023 and 2024. The decline in PE investments in Indian real estate during H1 2025 is down 41% YoY. As global capital turns more selective, decisions are now governed by nuanced assessments of currency risk, post-tax returns, governance clarity, and exit possibilities. I plan to invest in partnership firm promoted by my relative in Ahmedabad. Can an NRI invest in partnership firm planning real estate development? Sanjay Gupta, Sharjah. An NRI can invest in the capital of a firm on non-repatriation basis. However, the Indian firm should not be engaged in any agricultural/plantation or real estate business or print media sector. But a firm can invest in real estate development activity like residential or commercial development. The amount invested shall not be eligible for repatriation outside India. However, you can seek prior permission of Reserve Bank for investment in firm with repatriation option. While gifting immovable property, when does the receiver gets it legally in his possession? Prakash Leema, Dubai. Gifts should be accompanied with a registered gift deed. Once registered along with a gift deed, the receiver of the gift will get the legal ownership and right to possession of such property.
Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Gulf Today
India will buy Russian oil despite Trump's threats of penalties
India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite US President Donald Trump's threats of penalties, two Indian government sources said, not wishing to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. 'These are long-term oil contracts,' one of the sources said. 'It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight.' Trump last month indicated in a Truth Social post that India would face additional penalties for purchases of Russian arms and oil. On Friday, Trump told reporters that he had heard that India would no longer be buying oil from Russia. The New York Times on Saturday quoted two unnamed senior Indian officials as saying there had been no change in Indian government policy, with one official saying the government had 'not given any direction to oil companies' to cut back imports from Russia. Reuters reported this week that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil in the past week after discounts narrowed in July. 'On our energy sourcing requirements... we look at what is there available in the markets, what is there on offer, and also what is the prevailing global situation or circumstances,' India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters during a regular briefing on Friday. Jaiswal added that India has a 'steady and time-tested partnership' with Russia, and that New Delhi's relations with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. The White House in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Indian refiners are pulling back from Russian crude as discounts shrink to their lowest since 2022, when Western sanctions were first imposed on Moscow, due to lower Russian exports and steady demand, sources said earlier this week. The country's state refiners — Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd - have not sought Russian crude in the past week or so, four sources familiar with the refiners' purchase plans told Reuters. On July 14, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine. Russia is the top supplier to India, responsible for about 35% of India's overall supplies. Russia continued to be the top oil supplier to India during the first six months of 2025, accounting for about 35% of India's overall supplies, followed by Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, received about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil in January-June this year, up 1% from a year ago, according to data provided to Reuters by sources. Nayara Energy, a major buyer of Russian oil, was recently sanctioned by the European Union as the refinery is majority-owned by Russian entities, including oil major Rosneft. Last month, Reuters reported that Nayara's chief executive had resigned after the imposition of EU sanctions and company veteran Sergey Denisov had been appointed as CEO. Three vessels laden with oil products from Nayara Energy have yet to discharge their cargoes, hindered by the new EU sanctions on the Russia-backed refiner, Reuters reported late last month. Reuters
Arabian Post
12 hours ago
- Arabian Post
India maintains oil trade with Russia amid growing pressures
Despite mounting international tensions and growing calls for sanctions, India has confirmed its commitment to continuing oil purchases from Russia. The decision, which has drawn both support and criticism, comes in the face of strong opposition from Western powers, particularly the United States. India's robust relationship with Russia, especially in energy sectors, remains central to its strategy to ensure energy security amid global market volatility. While the United States has intensified its warnings against increasing trade with Russia, citing geopolitical risks and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Indian officials assert that the decision aligns with the country's broader economic interests and long-term energy goals. The timing of the announcement comes as global oil prices continue to fluctuate, driven by factors ranging from OPEC+ production cuts to the ripple effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With Russia now facing significant sanctions from the West, including oil price caps and restrictions on exports, India has emerged as one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil, navigating complex international pressures while keeping its energy needs in focus. ADVERTISEMENT India's oil imports from Russia soared in the wake of the war in Ukraine, particularly after Western nations moved to isolate Moscow from the global market. The country, which historically sourced much of its oil from the Middle East, found Russian oil a lucrative alternative as Western sanctions created discounts, allowing India to tap into a relatively cheap energy supply. Russia, in turn, welcomed the partnership, as it opened new markets and ensured continued demand for its oil. According to official sources, Russia's increased sales to India, and other non-Western nations, helped offset some of the lost revenue due to sanctions. India's government, however, has been careful to position its stance within a framework of neutrality. Public statements highlight that the nation's energy decisions are based on its own national interest, focusing primarily on economic stability and the welfare of its people. Officials have also pointed out that India is among the world's most energy-hungry nations and needs to secure a steady and affordable supply of oil to support its growing population and economic expansion. Internationally, this trade has sparked debates over the moral and strategic implications of engaging with Russia. Critics argue that by maintaining ties with Russia, India risks undermining global efforts to isolate Moscow, particularly as Western governments seek to enforce stricter sanctions. They point out the tensions between India's non-alignment policy and its deepening economic relationship with a nation under international scrutiny. On the other hand, some argue that India's approach reflects a pragmatic understanding of its own strategic priorities, particularly the need to balance international relationships with domestic requirements. With rising fuel costs and inflation becoming pressing issues for many nations, securing affordable energy resources has become a matter of national security. India's oil trade with Russia, however, is not without its challenges. Western nations have long pressured India to reduce its dependence on Russian energy. The Biden administration, particularly, has warned that India's continued imports could strain relations, especially as the US seeks to maintain solidarity with its European allies in pressuring Russia. Washington's position on the matter is clear: nations that continue to do business with Russia will face consequences, with potential impacts on trade and geopolitical ties. Yet, India's economic and geopolitical imperatives make it unlikely to back down. As part of the BRICS group, which also includes Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa, India has voiced its commitment to a multipolar world order where nations can pursue their own economic paths, free from external coercion. India has also consistently argued for the need for dialogue and peaceful resolution in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, advocating for diplomacy over military escalation. The ongoing conflict has undeniably reshaped global energy dynamics, forcing countries to reassess their energy strategies and alignments. While India's stance has garnered significant attention, its broader approach is seen as part of an evolving foreign policy that seeks to advance national interests without being swayed by external pressures.
