SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Commerce & Industry
In Abu Dhabi, India and the UAE co-chaired the 13th meeting of their High Level Joint Task Force on Investments, bringing together senior officials and investment bodies from both sides. The meeting flagged a surge in bilateral non-oil trade-touching nearly US$ 38 billion in H1 2025 -a 34 % rise over the same period in 2024, boosted by Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement’s (CEPA’s) implementation. The forum reviewed ongoing projects like Bharat Mart in Jebel Ali (a 2.7 million sq. ft. showcase hub for Indian producers) and explored deeper cooperation in maritime, space, and digital payments. Strategic initiatives on local currency trade, payment system integration, and CBDC coordination were also spotlighted, with both sides committing to accelerate implementation.
This meeting reinforces the India–UAE CEPA as a key pillar for bilateral economic diplomacy. The boost in trade volumes and focus on new domains-payments, digital infrastructure, new sectors-signals a shift from transactional to strategic partnerships.
CEPA is broader than an FTA and covers goods + services + investments. It includes cooperation on standards, IPR, digital trade, and sometimes skill mobility. India–UAE CEPA was signed 2022, in force May 2022
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India sustain this momentum by diversifying export baskets, deepening tech and digital linkages with the UAE, and ensuring that new cooperation initiatives translate into jobs and investments across states?
Follow the full news here: PIB Release – 13th India–UAE High Level Joint Task Force