Top ministers, government entities and business leaders will discuss bilateral trade and investment prospects between UAE and India at the third edition of the UAE-India Economic Forum (UIEF), to be held later this year, in Dubai, UAE.

The event, organised by UMS Conferences, will take place on November 8 and 9.

The forum will place special focus on critical sectors such as infrastructure, tourism, renewable energy and banking, said a statement from the organisers.

With UAE-India bilateral relations at an all-time high following the three-day visit of HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India, the primary objective of the forum is to discuss and evaluate business opportunities in both countries, it said.

The event is being supported by Invest India and has UAE International Investor Council as strategic partners.

HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations this year.

The crown prince, who was accompanied by a contingent of high-level government officials and industry leaders, held a series of meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss bilateral, regional and global concerns.

UAE is one of the largest investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments. UIEF will bring together government officials and key decision makers from UAE and India to discuss the policy frameworks and guidelines required to attract investors, sovereign wealth funds, large corporations and industries.

The event is an effective platform for Indian businesses aiming to explore the Middle Eastern market, as well as UAE-based businesses seeking to enter the Indian market.

Past editions of UIEF have met with considerable success. UIEF 2015 was inaugurated by Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance, India; while the 2016 edition featured keynote addresses by Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, India; Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, UAE and MJ Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs, India.

The forum will feature a government panel on bilateral trade, a special session focused on start-ups, specially designed booths for one-on-one networking sessions and a showcase for investment opportunities, said a statement.

Key areas the forum will focus on include defence and security, tourism, banking and finance, utilities and space technology, it said.

UIEF 2017 will also host the Qadat Al Tagheer Awards, which will honour the businessmen who have contributed to the growth of their country’s economies and recognise the efforts of government leaders who have worked towards fostering UAE-India trade relations. Bloomberg Businessweek ME will be the Promotional Partner of the event, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service