00:09And we are getting those live pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the UAE on this high-stakes visit
00:16where the focus is primarily on energy supplies and energy ties with the UAE to discuss the welfare of not
00:26just the diaspora,
00:27but also how to strengthen this relationship.
00:31Remember, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a five-nation visit to UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
00:37We are getting those live pictures from the UAE where the focus is on strengthening trade, investment, technology and strategic
00:44cooperation with Europe and the Gulf region.
00:47Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the UAE and he is also with the President of the UAE, Sheikh
00:57Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nayan,
01:00as the focus is to exchange views on bilateral issues in energy cooperation as well as regional and international issues
01:12of mutual interest.
01:14Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this very important visit as the leaders will be discussing ways to advance the bilateral
01:22comprehensive strategic partnership
01:25underpinned by strong political, cultural, economic and people-to-people links.
01:29The visit that will also serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two nations.
01:36Prime Minister's short visit to Abu Dhabi that is being seen as a chance for India to shore up energy
01:43supplies from the UAE
01:44and also to discuss the welfare of the four million strong diaspora in the Emirates.
01:51That also is a huge concern as the West Asia war also heightened those fears.
01:59There's now two MOUs that are expected to be signed, one on LNG supplies and another on strategic oil reserves
02:06that are expected to be signed between the two countries during Prime Minister Modi's UAE visit.
02:13Remember, this is a five nation tour that he's embarked upon.
02:16This is especially critical as during the crisis of the U.S.-Iran war that has had a huge impact on
02:25the movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz
02:27and India making an important outreach to key West Asian suppliers of energy.
02:32UAE is India's third largest trade partner and the seventh largest source of investment cumulatively over the past 25 years.
02:42Prime Minister's visit to the Emirates that is coming months after President of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al
02:50-Nayan visited India for two to three hours.
02:53Remember, this was in January.
03:03And now Prime Minister Modi on this very important visit as the focus once again is to strengthen ties with
03:12the UAE.
03:15Remember, it is today for 24 hours that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in UAE after which he will also
03:22go to Netherlands
03:23and the visit that has come in at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Netherlands, Rob Jetten, that will
03:30be on the 17th of May.
03:32Prime Minister, during this very important visit, the five nation tour that he's embarked upon,
03:38where the focus primarily today is on discussions with the UAE and it is about strengthening relations
03:51during this very important time when the outcome of the West Asia war still looms large.
03:57Let me take this to my colleagues, Pooja, Shali and Shivani Sharma joining us on the broadcast.
04:03As we say with these pictures, Pooja, and of course the focus on the significance of this visit.
04:09Absolutely. May 15th to May 20th, these five days, very crucial.
04:12Five nation tour beginning for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
04:16And this is the guard of honour.
04:18This is of course a courtesy protocol that happens on every official visit.
04:21But look at that.
04:22Prime Minister Modi, the one he's meeting, this is more than a political relationship.
04:27Meeting MBZ has also been like meeting a big brother.
04:31Because Prime Minister Modi has addressed MBZ as someone who he regards as a brother.
04:37So there is definitely a friendship that has come in.
04:41UAE is very crucial.
04:42It is amid the West Asia war that he's heading and he's now in the United Arab Emirates.
04:48This is because, remember, that UAE was also hit by the Iranian strikes.
04:52And therefore, a message of friendship going to the UAE at this juncture.
04:58That while there are, of course, the crisis that's looming large.
05:01But for the UAE, India continues to be a friend.
05:04What are we expecting?
05:05Energy security will be, of course, top on agenda.
05:07It's the Gulf region after all.
05:09Two major energy pacts are likely to be signed during the visit.
05:12India is going to seek long-term crude oil and LPG supplies.
05:16Why is that?
05:16We know the state of Hormuz has been facing a blockade.
05:19There is going to be immense pressure for our domestic interests when it comes to the crude oil.
05:23So Prime Minister Modi will ensure that for Indian interests, UAE is taken into confidence for that.
05:28Also, the UAE exit from OPEC may boost India's bargaining power.
05:32And UAE investing $4.3 billion in India last year.
05:36So we are talking massive investments here.
05:39Energy cooperation, trade investment and regional issues of mutual interest.
05:43But meeting the UAE President, Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nayan, is very crucial.
05:47You've also seen visuals of them earlier.
05:50There have been handshakes, hugs, greetings.
05:53But it is very interesting how this visit is the first when it comes to five-nation tour.
05:58Prime Minister Modi has arrived.
05:59We'll wait for further details on that.
06:01After this, he's going to head to other countries as well.
06:05And the other countries are Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
06:08Over to you, Suisha.
06:11Stay on with that.
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