As part of H.E. Piyush Goyal’s visit to the UAE for the High-Level Task Force on Investments (HLTFI), UIBC-UC hosted a high-level closed-door dialogue in Dubai, marked by the launch of its landmark research paper, “Strength in Synergy: Unlocking India–UAE CEPA Global Potential.” The session highlighted the strategic role of CEPA in shaping the next phase of India–UAE economic cooperation.
The dialogue was co-chaired by H.E. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade. Distinguished attendees included H.E. Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to the UAE; H.E. Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai and the Northern Emirates; and Shri Aseem R. Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf), Ministry of External Affairs.
Key UIBC-UC leadership participation included Mr. Faizal Kottikollon, Chairman of UIBC-UC and Chairman of Kef Holdings, Mr. Rizwan Soomar, Co-Chair of UIBC-UC and CEO & Managing Director – Middle East, North Africa & India Subcontinent, DP World, and H.E. Major General (Retd.) Sharafuddin Sharaf, Vice-Chair of UIBC-UC and Vice Chairman of Sharaf Group.
Alsopresent were board members of UIBC-UCincluding, Mr. Nilesh Ved, Chairman of Apparel Group; and Mr. Ankur Gupta, Head of Corporate Affairs & Growth, MENA at Tata Sons and founding members, Mr. Siddharth Balachandran, Executive Chairman and CEO of Buimerc Corporation; Mr. Amit Jain, Group CEO of Emaar; Mr. Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder at EaseMyTrip and Mr. Neeraj Makin, Senior Executive Vice President and Group Head – Strategy, Analytics & Venture Capital at Emirates NBD. They were joined by secretariat members Kshitij Korde and Neha Sahni, who played a pivotal role in facilitating the dialogue.
A key area of discussion was the the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and its transformative impact on the India-UAE economic corridor. In the first half of 2025 alone, CEPA enabled US$37.6 billion in non-oil bilateral trade, a 33.9% increase over the previous year, while catalyzing growth in emerging sectors including artificial intelligence, space technology, digital services, and green energy. The partnership further strengthens India’s global trade footprint and positions the UAE as a preferred investment hub for Indian enterprises and high-net-worth individuals.
Building on the momentum of the India-UAE CEPA, UIBC-UC used this opportunity to launch the “Strength in Synergy: Unlocking India-UAE CEPA Global Potential.”The report builds on UIBC-UC’s earlier publication, “The India-UAE Odyssey: Echoes of History, CEPA’s Melody, and Prospects for Future Harmony,” and positions CEPA as a global blueprint for innovation-led growth, driving trade diversification, investment flows, and collaboration in sectors such as AI, sustainability, fintech, and clean energy. It provides actionable insights for policymakers, investors, and enterprises to fully harness CEPA’s potential.
Following the dialogue and report launch, UIBC-UC hosted a luncheon with high-level government officials and industry leaders, fostering deeper engagement and strategic dialogue between stakeholders from both nations. The UIBC-UC team instrumental in the research was also present, including Kshitij Korde, Neha Sahni, Simar Kaur, AiswarriaSuchith, and Pratibha Prem Kumar. This dialogue and study play a significant role in advancing a new era of trust, innovation, and shared prosperity between India and the UAE.
