New Delhi, August 19: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to kick-off on an official three-day visit to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from August 23, according to the ministry of external affairs’ statement issued on Sunday.
During his visit, Modi is slated to honoured with the “Order of Zayed” – the highest UAE civil decoration, conferred in April 2019 to him in recognition of his leadership that offered a great boost to the bilateral relationship and cooperation between the two countries, according to ANI.
In an official statement, the MEA said, “The award in the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, acquires special significance as it was awarded to Prime Minister Modi in the year of the birth centenary of Sheikh Zayed.”
The Indian Prime Minister is also expected to hold a meeting with Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to hold discussions related to regional, bilateral, and international matters of both nations’ mutual interest.
The UAE and India enjoy close, warn and multi-faceted ties underpinned by religious, economic and cultural linkages which elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Modi’s visit to the nation in August 2015.
With a flow of bilateral trade and investments of around USD 60 billion, the UAE marked the third largest trade partner of India, as well as, the fourth-largest crude oil exporter for India.
The statement read, “A 3.3 million-strong vibrant India community in the UAW nourishes the vibrant people-to-people contacts between our two friendly countries. The visit would further strengthen our friendly bilateral ties with the UAE.”
The Indian prime minister scheduled on August 24 to depart for Bahrain, marking his first-ever prime ministerial visit to the nation. During his visit, Modi is expected to hold a meeting with Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Ali Khalifa, Bahrain prime minister, to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations, regional, as well as, international issues of their mutual interest.