PM holds series of bilateral meetings; hails India-UAE ties, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with leaders from the UAE, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Malaysia on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
• Discussions with the UAE focused on strengthening ties, investment opportunities, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor project.
• The UAE's International Holding Company announced an $11.5 billion investment in an integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha.
• India and Vietnam reviewed their Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with Vietnam being a key pillar of India's Act East Policy.
• Malaysia agreed to establish a Consulate General of India in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, reinforcing the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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Detailed Insights:

• PM Modi met Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, emphasizing India-UAE ties as a symbol of stability in West Asia.
• The UAE's new sovereign investment fund, L’Imad, was noted for its potential role in deepening the India-UAE partnership.
• Cooperation areas with the UAE included defence, space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation.
• The meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali aimed to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership and reinforce the collective voice of the Global South.
• The Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam was elevated during the State Visit of Vietnam's President in May 2026.
• India's Act East Policy views Vietnam as a crucial partner for engagement with Southeast Asia.
• Discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim covered diverse sectors including trade, investment, semiconductors, and digital economy.

Key Concepts Involved:

• BRICS: An intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and other recently added members, aiming to promote economic cooperation.
• Act East Policy: India's foreign policy initiative to strengthen economic, strategic, and cultural relations with the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Southeast and East Asian countries.
• Global South: A term referring to countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, often characterized by developing economies and shared historical experiences of colonialism.
• Sovereign Investment Fund: A state-owned investment fund that invests in real and financial assets globally, typically funded by a country's surplus revenues.