NEW DELHI: The 15th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), held in New Delhi, marked a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation as both nations signed an MoU to boost collaboration in polar and ocean research. The agreement, inked between the Emirates Polar Mission Steering Committee of the UAE and India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), aims to foster partnerships in polar operations, academic research, and capacity building. It reflects a shared commitment to advancing scientific exploration in polar regions.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan co-chaired the meeting, which also saw participation from senior officials of both countries. The ministers highlighted the importance of strengthening ties across multiple sectors, including defence, higher education, space, healthcare, and food security. They lauded recent collaborative achievements, such as the successful ‘Desert Cyclone’ military exercise and the inauguration of the IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi campus.
The agreement on polar research underscores the shared vision of India and the UAE to expand their global scientific footprint. It promotes joint research efforts, exchange programs, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, facilitating a stronger presence for both nations in polar regions. Additionally, the MoU enhances operational collaboration in the polar zones, paving the way for groundbreaking developments in these challenging environments.
Beyond science, the meeting emphasized the growing strategic partnership between the two nations. The leaders reviewed progress on establishing overseas campuses for prominent Indian institutions like IIM Ahmedabad and IIFT in Dubai, fostering innovation and academic excellence. Discussions also covered key areas such as logistics, agritech, and supply chain advancements, which align with their broader economic goals.
Both ministers expressed gratitude for the mutual contributions of their respective communities. Jaishankar thanked the UAE for its hospitality toward 3.89 million Indians residing there, while Sheikh Al Nahyan commended their pivotal role in the UAE’s development. The meeting concluded with an agreement to convene institutional dialogues to address consular matters and enhance collaboration in skills and manpower sectors in the months ahead.
