Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal holds bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi to deepen Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, on August 29, 2025, to further deepen the India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both reaffirmed their target of Rs. 8,80,200 crore (US$ 100 billion) non-oil, non-precious metals trade by 2030 and discussed collaboration in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and healthcare. They also stressed the importance of timely trade data sharing, with the CEPA Sub-Committee on Services to convene within two months. India welcomed the Emirates Drug Establishment’s role in addressing pharmaceutical concerns, while both sides committed to resolving market access and regulatory issues through the CEPA Joint Committee. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, also appreciated the UAE’s growing investments in infrastructure, logistics, and food processing.

On August 30, 2025, the Ministers co-chaired meetings with pharmaceutical and food sector stakeholders. The UAE assured expedited regulatory clearances for pharma while India highlighted opportunities in traditional medicine, particularly ayurveda. In food, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched the Bharati Scheme to support over 100 agritech start-ups and signed an MoU with Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), making India the partner country for Gulf Food 2026, securing 1,200 sq.m. of exhibition space. Later, at a business interaction, both sides hailed CEPA’s achievements, with Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, emphasising India’s 7.8% quarterly growth and goal of becoming a US$ 5 trillion economy by 2027. Minister of Foreign Trade of the UAE, H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, underlined India’s role as the world’s fourth-largest economy and the UAE’s strategic gateway to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. 

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.