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UAE assures support for
UNSC seat: Indian official

ABU DHABI - The UAE and India are looking for a wide range of cooperation, and the main areas of collaboration would be energy, food security, countering terrorism, technology, education and agriculture developments said Latha Reddy, secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, India.

Reddy was addressing a Press conference at Hilton Hotel, Abu Dhabi, as part of the Indian President’s visit to the UAE. She reiterated that the UAE had assured its support for India to be a permanent member of the United Nation Security Council (UNSC).

Reddy said that President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Indian President held discussions on various topics.

There was positive response from Shaikh Khalifa in developing food security projects and enhancing food production and food processing in India, said Reddy.

According to Reddy, the UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan held discussions with the Indian President on investment in infrastructure in India and also extension of knowhow in cultivating better dates palms, particularly in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

Another important topic of discussion was the setting up of water desalination plants which would provide valuable water resource to the UAE and India. It was also agreed that this could be a subject of joint research between the two countries.

The UAE is a valuable partner in energy security since India imported petrochemicals amounting US$5 billion last year, Reddy said.

The Indian President expressed keenness in further strengthening India’s energy security ties with the UAE and invited participation in both upstream and downstream activities in the petroleum sector in India, Reddy said.

anwar@khaleejtimes.com

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