Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar will lead the Indian delegation to the fifth India-Arab Partnership Conference in Muscat, Oman from December 14-15. The conference is being organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers in Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in partnership with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, supported by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Three states—Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh—will showcase business and investment opportunities in their states to the Arab world. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Madhya Pradesh Industry Minister Rajendra Shukla and CEO of Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board Jasthi Krishna Kishore will head their state delegations.
The fifth India-Arab Partnership Conference is significant given that there has been a fresh injection of vigour into India's relations with the Arab world with several high level visits. The Arab world is collectively India’s largest trading partner with bilateral trade crossing US$ 180 billion. India sources 60 per cent of its oil and gas requirements from West Asia. Leading Indian companies are involved in activities ranging from manufacture of bus bodies, oil field drilling equipment and platforms to supplying heavy duty dumpers to phosphate mines.
The conference will aim at enhancing the flow of investments from both sides, accelerating pace of investment projects in a number of prioritised sectors, activating the existing joint ventures, providing a conducive environment for export promotion and sharing of expertise.
