New Delhi: India and the United Arab Emirates convened the third Joint Committee meeting under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi, marking another step forward in strengthening bilateral economic ties.
The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, and H.E. Juma Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs, UAE. Both sides welcomed the strong momentum in trade, which crossed USD 100.06 billion in FY 2024–25, reflecting a 19.6% growth and reaffirming the UAE’s role as one of India’s most significant trading partners.
Key Discussions
Delegates carried out a detailed review of CEPA’s progress, covering:
- Market access and data-sharing mechanisms
- Allocation of Gold TRQ through India’s new transparent bidding process
- Anti-dumping concerns and Rules of Origin
- BIS licensing and regulatory coordination
- Services sector opportunities
India also briefed the UAE on recent policy updates, including reforms designed to enhance transparency and efficiency in trade facilitation.
Strengthening Cooperation
The two sides reflected on recent high-level engagements between Commerce & Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi in Mumbai and Dubai. Both reaffirmed their commitment to expand non-oil and non-precious metal trade, aiming to reach the USD 100 billion target by 2030.
Discussions also touched on:
- Regulatory cooperation in pharmaceuticals
- Resolution of issues related to Certificates of Origin
- Early signing of the MoU on Food Safety and Technical Requirements between APEDA (India) and MoCCAE (UAE)
Outcomes
The meeting concluded with agreements to:
- Enhance trade facilitation and regulatory collaboration
- Strengthen data-sharing frameworks
- Convene the Services Subcommittee for deeper sectoral cooperation
The UAE delegation also met Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal, where both sides discussed ways to maximize CEPA’s benefits.
Strategic Partnership
The visit underscored the shared commitment of India and the UAE to deepen trade relations, expand market opportunities, and reinforce their strategic partnership under CEPA
