Says UAE can be a ‘valuable partner’ in India’s $5t economy goal
Abu Dhabi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the United Arab Emirates’ highest civilian honour during a visit on Saturday to the oil-rich Gulf nation, reinforcing ties between the countries even as he faces criticism over stripping occupied Kashmir of its autonomy.
Activists, however, decried the UAE bestowing the award on Modi as he pursues a clampdown on the Himalayan region, saying it only gives cover to India amid the Kashmir crackdown.
Abu Dhabi’s powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, personally put the golden medal around Modi’s neck during an event that was closed to press in Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital. With a portrait of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s first president for whom the order is named, behind them, the two men shook and held hands for a moment and spoke quietly. “You deserve it,” Sheikh Mohammed told Modi at one point while posing for photos. Modi had been announced as a recipient of the prize in April in a tweet from Sheikh Mohammed.
“We have historical and comprehensive strategic ties with India, reinforced by the pivotal role of my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave these relations a big boost,” a tweet from his account read.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Emirates News Agency, WAM, in an exclusive interview that India finds a partner in the UAE to achieve its ambitious dream of achieving a $5 trillion economy.
“We consider the UAE as a valuable partner in realising the objective to reach $5 trillion economy through a mutually beneficial partnership,” said Modi who started on Friday night a two-day state visit to the UAE.
“India has embarked on the ambitious, yet achievable, path to be a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. We are targeting about $1.7 trillion dollar worth of investments in the coming five years. To achieve this vision, the government is working to promote inflows from domestic as well as foreign sources,” the Prime Minister explained.
