PM Foreign Tour Highlights: PM Modi says India-Netherlands ties set for new boost amid India-EU trade pact

PM Narendra Modi, after landing in Amsterdam, said in a social media post that his visit to the Netherlands comes at a crucial time when the India-EU free trade agreement has boosted trade and investment ties. He said the visit would help strengthen cooperation in key sectors such as semiconductors, water management and clean energy. PM Modi added that he would hold talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and also address the Indian community during an event on the morning of May 16.
 

MA Yusuff Ali, LuLu Group Chairman & MD, said ties between India and the United Arab Emirates have grown stronger under the leadership of Narendra Modi and the UAE President.

Speaking during PM Modi’s visit to the UAE, Yusuff Ali said the Gulf nation had faced an “unfortunate crisis” over the last two months, following which the UAE President directed him to ensure there was no shortage of food products. He said he personally met Modi and sought assistance on food security issues, thanking the Prime Minister for his support.

Calling the visit a “proud moment” for Indians living in the GCC region, Yusuff Ali said the India-UAE relationship continues to strengthen across sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he held "excellent discussions" with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which he reiterated India's strong condemnation of the attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates.

In a post on X, Modi referred to the UAE President as “my brother” and said he conveyed appreciation for Sheikh Mohamed's "leadership, courage, and wisdom," which, he said, had been evident during the ongoing period of regional tensions. The Prime Minister also thanked the UAE leadership for the care and attention extended to the Indian community living in the Gulf nation.

During the meeting between Modi and UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a tripartite MoU has been signed between Cochin Shipyard Limited, Drydocks World and the Centre of Excellence in Maritime & Shipbuilding to strengthen skill development in ship repair.

The agreement aims to create a framework for mobilising, training and employing a skilled maritime workforce, while enhancing the capabilities of Indian workers and positioning India as a hub for shipbuilding and ship repair professionals.

PM Narendra Modi, in a statement, mentioned that UAE government has announced investments worth USD 5 billion in India. He tweeted, "This UAE visit also saw the conclusion of key agreements across vital areas such as energy, defence, infrastructure, shipping and advanced technology, giving fresh impetus to the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."

He hopes this will further deepen the economic ties between the countries.

UAE F-16 fighter jets escorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Air India One as it entered the country's airspace on Friday.  What was the reason?

Read our report here 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Abu Dhabi for a short visit, underlined the deepening strategic ties between India and the United Arab Emirates, saying the friendship between the two nations remains “very strong”. In a post on X, he reaffirmed the commitment to work together for “a better future for our planet”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brief visit to the United Arab Emirates on Friday delivered significant strategic and economic gains for India, with the two countries unveiling a series of defence, energy and infrastructure agreements alongside investment commitments worth billions of dollars. 

Read our full report here

"Today, the impact of the war-like situation in the West Asia region is visible across the world. India has always given priority to dialogue and diplomacy for resolving problems. Our biggest priority is to keep the region free, open and safe. In this effort, adherence to international laws is essential," PM Modi said. 

He added,"India stands shoulder to shoulder with the UAE in every situation and will continue to do so in the future."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to the Emirates for ensuring the safety and well-being of Indians in the country during the West Asia war. 

"During these difficult times, you have shown concern for the Indian community living in the UAE and have taken care of them. The way you have looked after them as members of your own family, the Government of India and your Royal Family deserve heartfelt gratitude," he said. 

Prime Minister Modi said, "We strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE and denounce the way the UAE has been targeted. This is unacceptable in any form. In these difficult circumstances, the restraint and maturity you have shown are highly commendable. We appreciate the steps taken under your leadership to maintain national unity, security and territorial integrity."

 Here are the major agreements and investment decisions announced today:

Agreement on Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership between India and UAE.

MoU on Strategic Petroleum Reserves.

Agreement on supplies of Liquified Petroleum gas (LPG).

MoU on setting up Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar.

Investment worth 5 billion US dollars was announced in Indian Infrastructure, RBL Bank and Samman Capital.

India and the UAE exchanged MoUs in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In his delegation-level talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, PM Narendra Modi said, "I express heartfelt gratitude to you for the warm welcome. Just like you said, I have come to my second home. This sentiment is a huge capital of my life. Your Air Force jets escorted me today. This is an honour to the people of India."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the targeting of the UAE in the ongoing conflict during his address in Abu Dhabi.

Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold talks with the UAE President  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with discussions set to focus on the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia.

Energy security is likely to be a central theme of the discussions, as India monitors rising instability in the Gulf region amid concerns over oil supplies and maritime trade routes.

UAE's F16 jets escorted Prime Minister Modi's plane as it entered the country's airspace. 

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Abu Dhabi. 

Flight tracking platform Flightradar24 shows Air India One, which is used to fly the PM on most international trips, has landed in Abu Dhabi.

UAE (May 14-15)

• Bilateral meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Discussions on India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
• Talks on energy cooperation and the West Asia conflict
• Engagements focused on trade, investment and welfare of the Indian diaspora

Netherlands (May 15-17)

• Meeting with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima
• Bilateral talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten
• Discussions on defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and water partnership
• Engagements aimed at boosting trade and investment ties

Sweden (May 17-18)

• Bilateral talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
• Discussions on green transition, AI, emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence, space and climate action
• Addressing the European Round Table for Industry along with Ursula von der Leyen

Norway (May 18-19)

• Participation in the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo
• Meetings with King Harald V and Queen Sonja
• Bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store
• Addressing the India-Norway Business and Research Summit
• Discussions on trade, investment, clean and green technology, blue economy and India-EFTA cooperation
• Summit-level engagement with leaders of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden

Italy (May 19-20)

• Meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella
• Bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
• Discussions on implementing the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029
• Focus on investment, defence and security, clean energy, innovation, science and technology cooperation

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy said the India-UAE partnership continues to scale new heights, with both countries now targeting USD 200 billion in bilateral trade after surpassing the USD 100 billion milestone under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Speaking about the expanding ties between the two nations, Al Hashimy said India and the UAE have consistently unlocked new areas of cooperation by working closely together as “Team India and Team UAE”. She described CEPA, signed a few years ago, as a landmark agreement that helped the two countries exceed their initial trade targets and laid the foundation for broader collaboration.

She further said the partnership is now increasingly focused on emerging sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and supercomputing, while also deepening cooperation in infrastructure projects linked to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), launched by PM Modi.

"What I can say with confidence is that Team India and Team UAE work closely together. We uncover and unlock more potential. So, today we talk more on technology and AI, we talk more about quantum and supercomputing, we talk more on areas of infrastructure - which PM Modi launched a few years ago through IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor)," he said.

Calling India a “friend and partner”, Al Hashimy said both countries continue to discover “more mountain tops to reach” in their bilateral relationship.

Following the PM Modi-Al Nahyan talks, India and the UAE are expected to firm up two significant pacts to boost cooperation in the areas of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and strategic petroleum reserves.

As PM Modi left for the UAE, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the close and strategic partnership between India and the Gulf nation, underlining the growing depth of ties across economic, defence, cultural and energy sectors.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared a video presentation on X through the official MEA India handle, showcasing the evolution of the India-UAE relationship into a “close, strategic and wide-ranging” partnership. The video highlighted the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between the two countries in 2017, which has significantly expanded cooperation in trade, investment, defence and people-to-people exchanges.

According to the MEA, UAE foreign direct investment in India has crossed USD 22 billion since 2000, reflecting the Gulf nation’s growing economic engagement with India. The presentation also emphasised the robust energy partnership between the two countries and their expanding defence cooperation.

Among the key defence initiatives highlighted was the 2024 Gulf Waves naval exercise, reflecting increasing maritime and security collaboration between India and the UAE. The MEA also pointed to the UAE’s participation in the 2023 Global Biofuels Alliance, underscoring cooperation in emerging and sustainable energy sectors.

India and the United Arab Emirates share close strategic, economic and diplomatic ties, with the relationship being elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017. The UAE is among India’s top trading partners and a key source of energy imports and investments. The two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022 to boost trade and investment, while also expanding cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure, fintech, renewable energy, defence and technology.

The relationship is also driven by strong people-to-people ties, with over 3 million Indians living and working in the UAE, making them the country’s largest expatriate community. India and the UAE closely cooperate on regional security, counter-terrorism and maritime issues, while maintaining frequent high-level political engagement between Prime Minister Modi and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive in the UAE at around 10.10 am, is expected to spend nearly four hours in the country, during which he will meet the Emirates' President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

From the UAE, he will leave for the Netherlands, where he will stay from May 15 to 17. During the visit, he will meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from Delhi for the UAE as he embarked on a 5-nation visit, also including the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit also comes days after the United Arab Emirates announced its decision to exit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a major grouping of the world’s leading oil-exporting nations.

Apart from energy security, PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchange views on the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

T­he Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), ahead of the PM's trip to UAE and meeting with the Emirates' President, said, "The two leaders will have the opportunity to exchange views on bilateral issues, in particular energy cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest." It added the visit will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countries.

India and the United Arab Emirates are expected to firm up two significant agreements to boost cooperation in areas of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and strategic petroleum reserves during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. The key focus of Modi's trip to the UAE will be to enhance India's energy security, officials said. 

Source: PTI

The Prime Minister's first stop will be the UAE, where he is scheduled to hold talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to further strengthen the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchange views on the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to leave for the UAE at around 8.30 am. 

Hello and welcome to India Today’s live coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation tour, which begins in the UAE on Friday before proceeding to the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and concluding in Italy.