Developing tourist destinations, heritage sites and hotel projects emerged as a key focus area as the UAE and the Indian state of Rajasthan explored new avenues to strengthen economic, tourism and investment ties, following a series of high-level meetings held during a visit by a senior UAE minister to India.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, took part in a roundtable discussion on tourism and investment between the UAE and Rajasthan, held in Jaipur and attended by representatives from the tourism and hospitality sectors of both sides.
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During the session, he reviewed the UAE’s tourism assets and the opportunities they offer for enhanced cooperation, particularly in developing tourist destinations, heritage sites and hotel projects.
He also highlighted the importance of leveraging Emirati expertise in tourism and hospitality, as well as strengthening direct air links to support tourism, business and investment between the two countries.
The roundtable aimed to explore cooperation and investment opportunities, strengthen partnerships between the business communities, and discuss projects for developing tourism and investment.
Meeting with Rajasthan’s CM
Bin Touq also met Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, to discuss prospects for enhancing cooperation between the UAE and Rajasthan in the economic, tourism and investment fields.
Bin Touq said the UAE-India economic partnership is an advanced model of integration and sustainable growth, opening up broad horizons for enhancing opportunities and expanding joint economic and tourism cooperation.
He affirmed that Rajasthan, with its tourism and heritage assets and its economic and investment potential, represents a significant partner in expanding cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Meeting with CII
Separately, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), organised a business roundtable in Rajasthan aimed at fostering partnerships in hospitality and tourism, medical technology, renewable energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, real estate and jewellery.
Participants discussed prospects for enhancing economic and investment cooperation and capitalising on opportunities presented by the UAE-India relationship.
Discussions also touched on the diversity of sectors represented by Rajasthan’s business community, reflecting a growing shift towards strengthening the state’s position as an industrial and innovation hub, as well as the role of the UAE-India economic partnership in supporting business communities on both sides, expanding Emirati investments in Rajasthan, and encouraging Rajasthani companies to use the UAE as a base for expansion into Gulf and global markets.
The roundtable also highlighted the advantages the UAE offers Indian companies, including its strategic location as a logistics hub for accessing African, European and Gulf markets, along with the supportive environment provided by its free zones and investment and financing systems for setting up and expanding businesses.
Source: Khaleej Times