Reflecting over these issues on the sidelines of Ananta Aspen Centre’s Flagship India- UAE Relations session, welcome remarks by Ambassador SK Lambah, chairmen, Ananta Aspen centre & Former special Envoy of the Prime Minister of India and by Ambassador Ranjit Gupta, Former Ambassador to Yemen and Oman. Key Note Address by HE Dr Ahmed Albanna, UAE Ambassador to India
Addressing the gathering, H.E Dr Ahmed Albanna lauded India’s role in UAE. Growing India-UAE economic and commercial relations have contributed to the stability and strength of a rapidly diversifying and deepening bilateral relationship between the two countries. Both sides are striving to further strengthen these ties for mutual benefits.
Today we’re seeing the benefits of that early strategic vision. The recent visits of Prime Minister Narender Modi to the United Arab Emirates and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, UAE to India have re-energized a partnership that has been growing steadily for many years. But one of the outcomes of the recent visits was also the recognition that our relationship is no longer solely about our strategic interests. It is also about the trade, academic, IT and other unofficial ties that underlie the broad popular and political support the relationship enjoys in both India and UAE. Our leaders therefore envisioned an enhanced relationship where we can utilize these ties as well to build the more peaceful, prosperous, and stable future we seek.
He said that UAE has played an effective role in the regional efforts and positively engaged in maintaining peace and stability through political, security, humanitarian and development mechanisms.
Against the backdrop of global economic turmoil driven by the fall in the oil prices. Manufacturing, construction , tourism and financial services shall remain the main economic pillars, contributing most to the country’s GDP.As the economy lays emphasis on transforming itself into an innovation driven and knowledge based economy.
He concluded by saying that it is worth pointing out that the investments between UAE and India have been on the rise. During the past one year, the UAE investments in India has growth by US$1 billion. 
