The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, held a significant bilateral meeting with the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Trade, H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, on August 29, 2025, aimed at strengthening the India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The discussions reaffirmed the ambitious target of Rs. 8,80,200 crore (US$ 100 billion) in non-oil, non-precious metals trade by 2030.

This meeting reflected the deepening partnership between India and the UAE, two economies with fast-expanding trade, investment, and strategic relations. Both sides explored cooperation in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and healthcare, acknowledging these as priority growth sectors for the next decade.

One of the key highlights of the discussion was the agreement on timely sharing of trade data to ensure smoother implementation of CEPA. The CEPA Sub-Committee on Services is scheduled to convene within two months, ensuring momentum on policy-level engagement. India also welcomed the Emirates Drug Establishment’s proactive role in addressing long-standing concerns in the pharmaceutical sector.

Both nations committed to resolving market access barriers and regulatory challenges through the CEPA Joint Committee, a mechanism set up to monitor the agreement’s progress and ensure issues are addressed in a timely and effective manner.

On August 30, 2025, the Ministers co-chaired dedicated stakeholder meetings with representatives from the pharmaceutical and food sectors. During the pharma-focused discussions, the UAE assured faster regulatory clearances for Indian pharmaceutical products. India, in turn, highlighted opportunities in traditional medicine, including ayurveda, given the global surge in demand for alternative healthcare solutions.

In the food sector, India announced the launch of the Bharati Scheme by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority). This initiative is expected to support over 100 agritech start-ups to strengthen India’s agricultural exports. Moreover, APEDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), officially confirming India as the partner country for Gulf Food 2026. India has already secured a 1,200 sq.m. exhibition space at the event, which will provide significant opportunities for Indian food exporters to access the Gulf market.

Later, during a business interaction session, both Ministers hailed the achievements of CEPA so far. Mr. Piyush Goyal emphasized India’s 7.8% quarterly growth rate and reiterated the government’s ambition of making India a US$ 5 trillion economy by 2027. He pointed out how CEPA has already boosted trade flows and enhanced confidence among businesses on both sides.

On the other hand, H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi underlined the strategic importance of India as the world’s fourth-largest economy and praised India’s growing role in shaping global supply chains. He also stressed the UAE’s position as a gateway to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, making CEPA a cornerstone in regional trade integration.

This bilateral engagement further strengthens India’s economic diplomacy and positions CEPA as a model agreement for future trade pacts. With pharmaceuticals, food, logistics, energy, and healthcare at the forefront, the India–UAE partnership is expected to set new benchmarks in cross-border collaboration.

The meeting also showcased the UAE’s growing investments in Indian infrastructure, logistics, and food processing industries, reflecting the depth of trust between the two countries. The continued commitment to regulatory cooperation and smoother market access will ensure that both sides achieve their ambitious $100 billion trade target by 2030.

The initiatives discussed – from the Bharati Scheme for agritech start-ups to the UAE’s fast-tracking of pharma approvals, and India’s role as partner country for Gulf Food 2026 – highlight the broad-based scope of CEPA. It goes beyond trade in goods, extending to investment facilitation, innovation, sustainability, and healthcare, making it a cornerstone of India’s trade policy in the Gulf region.

With consistent progress in institutional mechanisms, private sector participation, and government-to-government cooperation, the India–UAE CEPA is expected to become a model of modern, growth-oriented trade agreements, helping both economies secure long-term prosperity.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Vashishtha Luxury Fashion, Karbonsteel Engineering, Sharvaya Metals, Austere Systems, Optivalue Tek Consulting, Vigor Plast India, Goel Construction Company.

The Current active IPO are Amanta Healthcare, Rachit Prints, Abril Paper Tech, Sneha Organics, Sugs Lloyd, Oval Projects.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.