PM Modi to directly reach out to 2.6 million Indians in UAE

In his upcoming visit to the Gulf Nations, PM Narendra Modi will connect with the Indian diaspora in the UAE. As reported by the Economic Times, PM will address nearly 40,000 expats to woo the energy-rich country's sovereign fund to invest in sectors like aviation, telecom, ports and road transport during his upcoming visit on August 16-17.

During his maiden visit to the Gulf region as Indian PM, Modi will meet the strongest Indian community of 2.6-million—highest among all expat communities in the UAE—which apparently is an essential part of his pro-active diaspora outreach initiative.

As per a highly-placed associate of the Indian community in Dubai, the event has been planned at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on the eve of Aug 17.

An organizing committee has been formed by the Indian Community Welfare Committee (ICWC) to oversee the arrangements and lead preparations for the mega event.

According to BR Shetty, a member of the organizing committee, the reception is expected to attract at least 40,000 people of Indian origin. During his trip, Modi will visit both capital Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The ICWC has also said that a website has been created to facilitate registrations of community members for the meeting.

The Gulf nation is the 10th biggest foreign investor in India—an estimated $3.01 billion in FDI flowed in as of January—and its third biggest trading partner after China and the US. During his visit, Modi will be looking to further diversify bilateral trade and investments.

In 2014-15, bilateral trade between the two nations stood at close $60 billion. While India is an important export destination for UAE-manufactured goods, in 2014-15 the UAE became the second largest importer of Indian merchandise with sales topping $33 billion. The same year, the UAE was also the sixth largest import source of crude oil for India.

There is also a large Indian business community in the UAE which in 2013 made remittances of over $15 billion. Modi's trip could revive India-Gulf Cooperation Council free trade talks, the officials informed. The two sides would also like to intensify cooperation in counter-terrorism, maritime security, prisoner swap, cooperation in agriculture and food security. The UAE is expected to seek more protection for its investments in India.

Members of the Indian community in Dubai said they have been expecting a visit by an Indian prime minister for decades. Modi's predecessor, Manmohan Singh, was expected to reciprocate the visits of Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, here in 2007 and 2010. However, it was former president Pratibha Patil who paid a five-day state visit to the UAE in 2010.