Ahlan Modi
PM Modi makes 'third term' pitch in Abu Dhabi, hails India-UAE 'dosti'
Abu Dhabi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesdy applauded the growing synergy between India and the United Arab Emirates and the direction it would take in his "third term".
Addressing a massive cultural programme in Abu Dhabi this evening, PM Modi thanked the Indian expats who according to him were responsible for the burgeoning partnership with the Gulf nation he was visiting for the seventh time.
"UAE bestowed me with its highest civilian award - The Order of Zayed. This honour extends far beyond just myself. It belongs to the 140 crore Indians back home and the thousands of Indians residing in the UAE. I am grateful that our partners in Emirates have provided safe space to Indians in their hearts as well as their land," he said.
He spoke about Modi's guarantee as he eyes a third term in the Indian government in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
"Modi ki guarantee means guarantee pura hone ki guarantee (Modi's gurantee means that every guarantee will be met," PM Modi said at the "Ahlan Modi" programme at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, attended by thousands of expat Indians.
"This is the time to hail the friendship between India and the UAE. In this historic stadium, every heartbeat echoes the same sentiment. Long live Bharat-UAE friendship," PM Modi said at the event, which started with national anthems of the two countries.
India-UAE Dosti Zindabad! pic.twitter.com/6gr0f5XcFF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2024
One of how the relations can be straightened, he hinted, was taking India's UPI to UAE to build a system where money transfers can be made directly.
"India's Rupay helped UAE develop their domestic payment card. They have named the card Jeevan... Soon UPI services will start here and this will facilitate seamless payment transaction and you can send money to your family without any hassle," he said.
Over the last nine years, India's cooperation with the UAE has shot up in sectors like trade, defence, food and energy security and education.
The two nations are among each other's top trading partners, with a bilateral trade of about $85 billion in 2022-23, official data shows.
"Yet, the bond between the two nations is of "talent, innovation, culture", PM Modi said.
"Over the past few years, we have given a boost to our ties... UAE is India's third biggest trade partner," he said, congratulating expat Indians for their role in the process.
The "Ahlan Modi" programme at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, attended by over 3.5 million people, is one of the key events during the Prime Minister's two-day visit to the Gulf country.
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