00:00Highness Sheikh Abdullah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.
00:05Excellencies, colleagues, let me first of all say, Your Highness, what a great pleasure it is to
00:12welcome you and your distinguished delegation to Mumbai. After more than a decade of sustained
00:19engagement, the India-UAE relationship is today really living up to its promise as a comprehensive
00:27strategic partnership. This year has been marked by an exceptional intensity of leadership level
00:35engagement. We were honoured to welcome His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, President of the UAE, to India
00:41in January. His Highness Sheikh Khaled, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, led the UAE delegation to the
00:48AI Impact Summit in February and then to the 18th BRICS Summit. In May 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
00:57made his eighth visit to the UAE. Your Highness, colleagues, despite global headwinds and regional
01:05challenges, our economic partnership continues to set new benchmarks. Bilateral trade has crossed
01:13the $100 billion US mark since the signing of the CEPA. And two-way investments continue to grow,
01:21reflecting the confidence of our businesses in each other's economies. Cooperation in defence,
01:28energy, technology are acquiring a strategic character. Our people-to-people ties continue to enrich
01:36the lives of our communities. Our cultural partnership is also gaining strong momentum. Your Highness, the
01:44situation in the Gulf remains a matter of deep concern. We will continue to work together and support
01:51all efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy. We continue to support free, safe and unimpeded flow of
01:59trade, energy and fertilizer. I would also like to thank you today and through you, the UAE leadership,
02:07for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE. Once again, a very warm welcome to your
02:16second home. I would now request you for your opening remarks.
