Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this Press engagement, ahead of Prime Minister's visit. We have with us, Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra. We are also joined on the dais by Mr. Aseem Mahajan, who is the Joint Secretary looking after the Gulf region. With that, I invite Foreign Secretary to make his opening remarks.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much. Good afternoon to the friends from the media. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on 13th, 14th February, starting tomorrow morning. This will be the Prime Minister's seventh visit to the UAE. On 13th, soon after his arrival, the Prime Minister's engagement would include a meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE. Following the ceremonial welcome and reception at the Presidential Palace, the two leaders will sit down for bilateral meeting, there after there would be exchange of agreements and understandings after the discussions between the two leaders. This will be the fifth meeting of the two leaders in the last eight months. It gives you a sense of intensity of high-level political exchanges between India and the UAE. Their most recent meeting was in January this year on the sidelines of Vibrant Gujarat Summit. On the 13th itself, the Prime Minister will be addressing a community event, Ahlan Modi in Abu Dhabi, to further strengthen our deep connection with our diaspora family in the UAE. As you know, there is roughly 3.5 million strong Indian community in the UAE.
On 14th, on the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Prime Minister will be participating in the World Government Summit 2024 as a Guest of Honor and deliver a special keynote address on the closing day of the Summit. You would recall that previously the Prime Minister had participated in the World Government Summit in 2018. A key highlight of the Prime Minister's visit to the UAE would be the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on 14th February. You would also recall that the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of the temple in 2018 during his visit to the UAE.
In terms of substance, as we all know, India and UAE enjoy warm, close, and multifaceted relations underpinned by strong political, cultural, and economic linkages, and of course driven by the vision and personal guidance of the leadership of the two countries. Following the landmark visit of the Prime Minister to UAE in 2015, the bilateral relations between India and the UAE have undergone complete transformation. The relationship was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership level in 2017. If I could just highlight a few of the key important elements of the substantive transformation in our exchanges; last year, as you know, was a highly successful year in our exchanges. Intense high-level political exchanges, I've already referred to them earlier.
The Prime Minister visited UAE twice in 2023, in July, and in December, first to participate in the COP, World Climate Action Summit. Two transformative agreements like trade settlements in local currencies, MoUs in several areas, including renewables, healthcare, logistics, and food parks. We've also opened up new areas of partnership between the two countries in the field of food security, education, fintech, defence, and security. We have also consolidated the India-UAE trade relationship following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE. UAE has now become India's second largest export destination and the third largest trading partner. Our bilateral trade currently stands at roughly $85 billion. UAE has also become the fourth largest FDI investor in India last year. The visit of the Honorable Prime Minister to the UAE this time and the substantive agreements and understandings that are under discussions and negotiations between the two sides would allow the two leaders to inject further momentum across the whole range of areas that we cooperate in. The visit will also afford the opportunity to engage with the other global leaders who might be present on the sidelines of the World Government Summit.
From the UAE, after completing his visit on 14 February there, the Honorable Prime Minister will travel to Doha, Qatar on 14 February afternoon. During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and other high dignitaries in Qatar. You would recall that the Prime Minister had last visited Qatar in June 2016. As such, this will be the Prime Minister's second visit to Qatar. There have been several high-level exchanges between India and Qatar in recent years. You would recall the visit of the Honorable Vice-President to Doha in November 2022, as also the visit of the then Vice-President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu ji in June 2022. The External Affairs Minister has also undertaken multiple visits to Qatar in the last 3-4 years.
The bilateral relationship between India and Qatar, that has been steadily growing, includes a comprehensive span, including political ties, trade and investment linkages, our strong energy partnership, and ties in the field of culture, education and security. You would be aware, following the recently concluded India Energy Week, Qatar Energy and Petronet LNG Limited had signed an agreement for the supply of 7.5 MMTPA LNG from Qatar to India for 20 years, starting 2028. Strong bilateral trade between India and Qatar currently stands at roughly $20 billion, and Qatar is also a significant investor in India across the whole range of economies. Strong diaspora is equally an important connect between India and Qatar. Roughly, 840,000 strong, vibrant Indian community resides in Qatar.
The Prime Minister's visit to Qatar will provide an opportunity for the top leadership of the two countries to discuss ways to further deepen and strengthen our multifaceted partnership, as well as exchange views on different regional and international issues of mutual importance. The Honorable Prime Minister will return from his two-nation visit to Delhi back on 15 February. I would stop here and take questions that might be there.
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Can we start from here, Yeshi?
Yeshi: This is Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. Sir, the PM is going to Qatar, as you just mentioned. One of the eight navy veterans is still in Qatar. Is he likely to come back soon? And what led to their sudden return to India, if you could put light on that?
Sridhar: Sir, Sridhar from the Asian age. Sir, I wanted to know, the PM is of course going to Qatar. You issued a statement that the Emir had ordered the release, but is it equal to a royal pardon that the Emir gave? And also, could you speak about this personal intervention by PM Modi? Because when the two leaders spoke in Dubai, you did not reveal much details of what transpired in that conversation. So if we could get some, because we had Union Ministers thanking the PM for his intervention; and also, the sequence of events for the UAE visit. So is it going to be the bilateral talks first and then the temple inauguration followed by the Conference? Can you just clarify the sequence of the UAE visit, 13th and 14th. So first, it will be the bilateral talks. So what is the sequence of these? Thanks.
Smita: Smita Sharma, I work independently. Regarding the UAE visit, keeping in mind the ongoing Israel- Palestine conflict and the different positions, what does India see as the future for the current status for I2U2? Where is that headed to? And IMEC as well.
Megha: Hi, Megha from NewsX. My first question is, the Prime Minister visiting Qatar and meeting the Emir, is the release of the eight veterans the reason the Prime Minister is visiting there? Second of all, is there a likelihood of any informal talks or bilateral talks between the Prime Minister and Emir during the World Government Summit that takes place in Dubai?
Huma: Sir, I'm Huma Siddiqui from the Financial Express. You mentioned some agreements expected to be signed. So would you be able to share which areas these sectors could be from?
Umashankar: Umashankar, NDTV se. Jitne bhi saat bhartiya aaye hain un sabo ne kaha hain ki PM ke personal intervention ke bina ye sambhav nahi tha. Mera saval yahi hai kis tarah se ye personal intervention kiya gaya aur uske details aap bata sake please.
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Umashankar, from NDTV. All the seven Indians who have come together have said that this would not have been possible without the personal intervention of the Prime Minister. My question is, in what way was this personal intervention done and could you please provide details about it?
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Let me take Huma's question first with regard to the agreements, MoUs that are likely to be exchanged, signed during the visit. Currently, the two sides are busy discussing, as I said, various understandings and agreements that the two sides could finalize, sign, and exchange during the visit. While at this stage, I'm not in a position to share with you specifically the list of those documents, but broadly speaking, in terms of the areas of importance and continuing to build on what the two sides have signed in the past few years, these would include understandings in the field of energy, both relating to energy security and energy trade. There would be some understanding and documents in the larger sector of the ports, maritime, and logistics. Since digital cooperation between our two economies is an important element of our partnership, we are also looking to see if we can arrive at an understanding on investments in the field of digital infrastructure, arrangements for the protection and promotion of capital flows between our two economies has become a very significant feature of our relationship in the last 10 years. This is something which also is under discussion and is a part of focus. Maritime heritage, how the two sides can cooperate in that field, is a very important area of ongoing discussions. And also the fintech connectivity, both relating to how the two sides can cooperate on fintech platforms, but also on fintech products, which is different from platforms per se. Railways and related infrastructure, areas of cooperation, and port infrastructure that I've already touched upon. These are some of the areas in which the two delegations are currently engaged in discussions to see what kind of specific understandings could be finalized and agreed upon. We'll keep you briefed as we progress into the visit and the specific documents that get signed.
Sridhar, in terms of the sequence of the thing, currently, the way the program is structured, and of course these evolve as you go along, that the bilateral meetings and visits will be on the 13th, whereas the temple inauguration is on the next day, essentially.
On the set of questions relating to the release of Indian nationals in case of Al-Dahra case, whatever we wanted to say, we have said it in the morning. We are grateful for their return. We are gratified on their return. We deeply appreciate the decision of the Qatari government and the Emir to release them. We are happy to have seven of those Indian nationals back. 8th Indian national has also been released, and we continue to work with the Qatar government to see how quickly his return to India would be possible. As we have said already in our statement in the morning, and people have articulated also, Honorable Prime Minister has himself personally constantly supervised all the developments in this case and has never shied away from any initiatives that would ensure the return of Indian nationals back to home. We can talk of different frames and terminology, like Sridhar, you mentioned, whether it's a release or a pardon, etc. But I think we should see the facts for what they are. Seven of the eight Indian nationals of Al Dahra case are back, back in India, back to their homes. As I said, we are extremely gratified about it and appreciate deeply the gesture of the Emir of Qatar for the release and continue to work on the return of the 8th Indian national.
Smita, to your question with regard to impact of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict on the I2U2 and IMEC, no doubt the developments relating to the conflict in Gaza are always an important part of conversations whenever the leaders meet. But irrespective of that, the institutional engagement and the specific projects that the two countries and the... in case of IMEC, set of other countries involved and, in case of I2U2, the other partners, the agenda of partnership, agenda of cooperation that has been outlined in these two mechanisms is proceeding well. The different sides involved in this are continuing to hold regular discussions to make progress. And we are expecting, I mentioned the general category of ports, maritimes, and logistics as one of the areas of cooperation. A lot of this, you would appreciate, also deals with the infrastructure segments which fall under the IMEC corridor.
With regard to, I think, from the NewsX, the question was on the informal talks between the Emir and the leadership. Look, we have already mentioned about Honorable Prime Minister's visit to Qatar after the conclusion of his visit to UAE. The sideline visits, on the sidelines of the World Government Summit, we will keep you briefed as and when they continue to come up on radar and specific meetings are held.
Umashankar ji aapke prashna ka uttar jo maine pahle tippani ki usme nihit hai ki Pradhanmantri Modi ji vyaktigat roop se is vishay ko lekar supervision karte rahe hain, aur unke sashakt netrutva ka praman hi hain ye ek prakar se, aur sambandhon ki sajagta ko bhi darshata hai ki aath bhartiya nagriko mai se, Al-Dahra case ke, saat nagrik is samay apni bharat bhumi par hain.
[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Umashankar ji, the response to your question, as I mentioned earlier, is that Prime Minister Modi personally supervises this matter, and this is an evidence of his strong leadership in a way, and it also shows the strength of relationships that seven out of the eight Indian citizens involved in the Al-Dahra case are currently on Indian soil.
Speaker: [Inaudible]
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Look, the visits of the Prime Minister, any visits, not just this visit, but all visits are planned and scheduled and the discussions on that scheduling starts months in advance. And we announce those visits and as and when those schedulings get completed.
Kallol: Sir, this is Kallol from The Hindu. My question is regarding the fate of the Indian prisoners, especially in United Arab Emirates and Qatar, because the UAE, where the Prime Minister is headed, currently holds at least 2,100 Indian prisoners in its jails. And Qatar alone holds around 752 Indian prisoners, apart from the eight who have been released. So I want to ask, is the Government going to raise the issue of these prisoners at some point during these visits? And also, you know, most of these prisoners are from very underprivileged background, they're labourers and people accused of petty crimes, who don't get enough legal assistance. So would the Government also consider supporting them in some way so that they could also come back home?
Amiti: Hi, sir, I'm Amiti Sen from Hindu Business Line. Sir, this $2 billion of investments promised by UAE in the food parks under the I2U2, sir, will that also be a topic of discussion and what is the status of that?
Sudhi: Sir Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg here. On the Qatar case, if you could give us an understanding, who, I mean we understand that this would have been a pardon from the Emir, who then moved the, you know, mercy petitions. Was it Government of India or the veterans themselves?
Sahil: Sir, I'm Sahil from ANI. Regarding this big diplomatic retreat, how did India manage it and how did they process it?
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Listen, in so far as all the questions relating to Qatar and the return of seven of the eight Indian nationals who are back in India are concerned, I think we have already answered, issued a statement, whatever is to be said on that has been said and I would not have anything further to add.
Kallol to your question with regard to the number of Indian prisoners in the UAE and in Qatar and indeed in other countries, not just these two countries. The Government of India has extensive mechanisms in place of consular dialogues and discussions involving the Indian system and the systems in those countries, whose one of the the principal task is to keep working towards the early release of all the Indian prisoners, irrespective of which country they are. There are also very established mechanisms and systems in place which ensure that whatever assistance, wherever possible, is to be made available to these prisoners is made available through the government mechanisms. These are the systems which have been strengthened enormously, whose remit has been expanded extensively, where strong support by the government is embedded in them. These have been put in place particularly over the last 10 years under the Prime Ministership of Honorable Prime Minister Modi. This applies very much, as I said, to the current two countries also where Honorable Prime Minister is visiting and there are established dialogue mechanisms which take up that. I don't want to pre-judge the discussions that would take place at the leadership level, but I want to mention to you that this is something which is very regularly and extensively taken up on the system-wide basis by the Government of India.
To the question from the Hindu Business Line on the $2 billion investments on the food park, as I mentioned to you in response to one of the earlier questions, all projects that have been identified under I2U2 and food park project predates even the I2U2, those discussions are continuing between the relevant stakeholders on the UAE side as also on the Indian side, because some of these parties on the Indian side and the UAE side are private sector parties. So the project and the discussions under those projects continue to be held between the two sides.
Madhurendra: Sir, Madhurendra, main News Nation se hoon. Jaisa ki Pradhanmantri Abu Dhabi me BAPS mandir ke udghatan ke liye ja rahe hain, main janna chahunga ki is pure hi karyakram ka praroop kya hoga, khas taur pe Pradhanmantri wahan par jab udghatan karenge toh jo pujapath ki shrinkhala hogi woh kya hogi aur sath ki kya mandir se Pradhanmanri sambhodhit bhi karenge?
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, Madhurendra here from News Nation. As Prime Minister is going to Abu Dhabi for the inauguration of the BAPS temple, I would like to know what the format of this entire event will be? Especially regarding the inauguration by Prime Minister there, what will be the series of the worship rituals, and will the Prime Minister also address the audience from the temple?
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Dekhiya BAPS mandir ka jo inauguration ka program hai, woh Pradhan Mantri ji ke UAE yatra ka ek pramukh ang hai, uski vistrit jaankari jo inauguration se pehle hai uski kya rooprekha hogi wahan pe kitne log upasthit honge, abhi tak ki jaankari ye hai ki lagbhag do hazaar se paanch hazaar shradhaluon ki upasthiti ki apeksha hai wahan par. Program kafi vistrit hai uski jo pratyaksh roop se rooprekha hai us rooprekha ki samay sarni kya rahegi, uske kya bhaag rahenge, woh hum aapko inauguration se yatha purvak aur yathochit samay pe, suchit avyashya karenge.
[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] See, the inauguration program of the BAPS temple is a key aspect of Prime Minister's UAE visit. The detailed information available before the inauguration about what the format will be there, how many people will be present; as of now the information is that approximately two to five thousand devotees are expected to be present there. The program is quite extensive, and the schedule, including the sequence of events, will be communicated to you, at the appropriate time.
Madhurendra: [inaudible].
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Dekhiye maine aapse kaha ki us program ka jo swaroop hai, uski jo rooprekha hai uske baare mai hum aapko puri tarah se suchit karenge.
[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Look, I told you that we will inform you completely about the format of the program.
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Well, thank you. There are no more questions. We close this session. Thank you very much for your participation and look forward to our engagement. I am sure some of you are travelling or your teams are travelling to UAE. We will keep in touch. Thank you.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you.