NEW DELHI, India, Sept 10: On Monday, India and the United Arab Emirates signed five agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation. The agreements were finalized during discussions between Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The agreements encompass areas including nuclear energy, natural gas, petroleum, and the development of food parks, as stated by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for an official visit, held talks with Modi where both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made in their comprehensive strategic partnership. They also explored opportunities to further expand cooperation in various fields.

The two sides emphasized the importance of exploring new areas with untapped potential, such as nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies.

One key agreement involves a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and the Indian Nuclear Power Corporation for the maintenance and operation of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. This MoU aims to bolster cooperation in plant operation and maintenance, the supply of nuclear goods and services from India, and opportunities for mutual investment and capacity building.

Additionally, ADNOC signed a 15-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), committing to supply 1 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG. This new agreement supplements existing long-term contracts between IOC and GAIL with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for the supply of 1.2 MTPA and 500,000 MTPA of LNG, respectively.

An MoU between ADNOC and the Indian Petroleum Reserves Corporation (IPRC) was also signed to explore additional crude oil storage opportunities in India and renew the existing storage and management agreement under mutually acceptable terms. This agreement builds on ADNOC’s current involvement in crude oil storage at IOC’s Mangalore facility since 2018.

During his visit, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed met with Indian President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where they discussed the long-standing friendly and comprehensive relations between the two countries and recent initiatives.

Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed is scheduled to visit Mumbai on Tuesday to participate in the India-UAE Business Forum, which will provide a platform for business leaders and officials from both countries to discuss future cooperation in various sectors. (KUNA)