Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a high-level meeting with UAE Ambassador to India, Abdulnasser Alshaali, to explore avenues for strengthening cooperation between Assam and the UAE in key sectors such as agriculture and food processing, education, innovation, logistics, connectivity, and sustainable tourism.

Ambassador Alshaali is currently on an official visit to Assam to identify new opportunities for trade, investment, and economic collaboration. He highlighted Assam’s strategic location as a gateway to Northeast India and its vast potential for partnership with the UAE across multiple domains. “It was a pleasure exchanging ideas with CM Sarma. The UAE looks forward to deepening its engagement with Assam and supporting the state’s growth,” he said.

Chief Minister Sarma expressed his appreciation for the visit, stating, “Had the pleasure of welcoming H.E. Abdulnasser Alshaali at Lok Sewa Bhawan. We had fruitful discussions on boosting trade, enhancing connectivity, and attracting investment to Assam. The Northeast can play a pivotal role in strengthening India-UAE ties.” The two leaders also discussed the Jogighopa Multimodal Logistics Park, a key infrastructure project integrating road, rail, and inland waterways, which could bolster Assam’s role in regional and international trade networks, particularly with the UAE and Southeast Asia.

Additionally, both sides emphasized the role of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as a foundation for collaboration in sectors vital to Assam, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, textiles, wellness, and traditional handloom and handicrafts. Since CEPA’s signing on February 18, 2022, trade between the two nations has nearly doubled—from USD 43.3 billion in FY 2020–21 to USD 83.7 billion in FY 2023–24. Non-oil trade, a major component, reached USD 57.8 billion last year, moving India and the UAE closer to their goal of achieving USD 100 billion in non-oil trade by 2030.