Counter-terrorism, cyber security to top PM’s agenda
Stepping up cooperation in cyber security and counter-terrorism along with facilitating more investment in India’s infrastructure sector are likely to top PM Narendra Modi’s agenda during his upcoming UAE visit, officials familiar with the trip’s planning said.
Modi is scheduled to visit the Gulf nation, home to 2.8 million Indian passport holders, from Februray 10 and 11. The Prime Minister is likely to visit Palestine en route UAE.
Both India and UAE are planning to ink an ambitious agenda with an aim to strengthen their security and business ties.
The two sides have identified cyber security as a key area for stepping up cooperation, said an official. New Delhi is considering the possibility of setting up a cyber security centre, similar to the one UAE established in 2014, in order to curb crimes on the internet.
“Cyber security has emerged as key area of our bilateral cooperation with other countries. UAE has some best practices and centres in this field where cooperation could be mutually-benefitting”, another official said and added that the two sides are equally concerned about the “misuse of cyber space in spreading extremist ideologies”.
The two countries are also keen to step up efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, their financing and movement. In this context, India would like the UAE to help track the properties of people in its wanted list, officials said.
Facilitating more UAE investment to India remains a key focys area of the visit. Two sides are planng to step up the proposed USD 75 billion target for UAE investments in India’s infrastructure development
The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in July had signed an investment agreement worth $1 billion with a wholly owned unit Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
ADIA, a sovereign wealth fund owned by Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is the first institutional investor in NIIF’s Master Fund.
During his visit, Modi will also attend the sixth World Government Summit, a meeting of top global business leaders and academicians. Modi will also visit Wahat Al Karama monument and address the Indian community during his two-day visit.
NEWDELHI: