Modi breaks protocol, receives UAE crown prince at airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday broke protocol to receive Abu Dhabi’s crown prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport.

Sheikh Mohamed – the Deputy Supreme Commander of the armed forces of UAE – will be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day ceremony on Thursday.

This is his second visit to New Delhi in less than a year. The first state visit was in February last year. Modi and Sheikh Mohammed will meet on Wednesday and issue a document, outlining the vision for India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership, which both sides agreed upon during the prime minister’s visit to Abu Dhabi in August 2015.

The visit is likely to see New Delhi and Abu Dhabi expanding cooperation in diverse fields like defence, security, counter-terrorism, space technology and nuclear energy.

The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund will also sign a MoU with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to provide a framework for $ 75 billion investment flow from UAE to India. Both the countries will also sign several new pacts, including one to step up cooperation in maritime and road transport, agriculture and small and medium enterprises and innovation, Amar Sinha, Secretary (Economic Relations) at the Ministry of External Affairs, said.

Sheikh Mohamed will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee. New Delhi is also working with Abu Dhabi to “ring fence” some investments made by UAE companies, which landed in legal problems in India, said Sinha.

The proposed MoU on institutional cooperation in maritime transport will enable shipping companies in both countries to enter into bilateral and multi-lateral arrangements for sustainable trading activities.
DH News Service