New Delhi: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday held the third Joint Committee meeting under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi, marking a key moment in the fast-growing economic engagement between the two nations.
Co-chaired by Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, and H.E. Juma Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs, UAE, the meeting reviewed the operational progress of CEPA and discussed new avenues to accelerate bilateral trade.
Trade Growth Remains Strong; CEPA Crosses USD 100 Billion
According to official data discussed in the meeting, India–UAE bilateral trade reached USD 100.06 billion in FY 2024–25, a robust year-on-year jump of 19.6%. The UAE continues to rank among India’s top trade partners, supported by the smoother market access and tariff reductions under CEPA.
Officials reaffirmed the shared target of expanding non-oil and non-precious metal trade to USD 100 billion by 2030, in line with the strategic framework agreed by the leadership of both countries.
Regulatory, Market Access Issues Dominate Agenda
Both sides undertook a comprehensive review of CEPA implementation, focusing on operational challenges and regulatory bottlenecks. Key items discussed included:
- Market access in goods and services
- Data sharing mechanisms
- Anti-dumping and technical trade barriers
- Rules of Origin clarifications
- BIS licensing and product certification
- Allocation mechanisms for Gold TRQ (Tariff Rate Quota)
India also briefed the UAE delegation on its new transparent competitive bidding process for Gold TRQ allocation.
Focus on High-Level Engagements and Sectoral Cooperation
The meeting noted the outcomes of recent high-level interactions between Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UAE Minister Dr. Thani in Mumbai and Dubai.
Sector-specific discussions covered:
- Pharmaceutical regulatory cooperation
- Faster resolution of Certificates of Origin
- BIS–UAE coordination on standards
- Early finalisation of the MoU on Food Safety and Technical Requirements between APEDA (India) and MoCCAE (UAE)
UAE Delegation Meets Commerce Secretary
On the sidelines, the UAE delegation met Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal to explore ways to enhance CEPA utilisation and improve trade facilitation frameworks. The discussion emphasised greater data integration, regulatory convergence and improved industry participation on both sides.
Roadmap Ahead
Both countries agreed to:
- Strengthen trade facilitation
- Deepen regulatory cooperation
- Enhance data sharing
- Convene the next Services Subcommittee meeting at the earliest
Officials said the visit reinforces the commitment of India and the UAE to expand bilateral trade, diversify market opportunities and consolidate the CEPA-based strategic partnership.
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