India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken a significant step towards bolstering their collaboration in sustainable industrial development with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Abu Dhabi’s prestigious Emirates Palace. The agreement, inked by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, was formalized in the presence of Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
Aiming for Mutual Benefit
This MoU is geared towards facilitating industrial investments, technology transfer, and the adoption of critical technologies in various industries, and it promises to bring mutual benefits through joint industrial and technological advancements.
Advancing Industry in Line with Sustainability Standards
Dr. Al Jaber emphasized that this MoU will play a pivotal role in advancing the industrial sector in alignment with advanced technology and sustainability standards. He stated, “This aligns with the objectives of the national industrial strategy, and ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative, aimed at transforming the UAE into a global hub for advanced industry, especially industries of the future.”
Key Areas of Cooperation
The MoU encompasses several key areas of cooperation, spanning advanced industries, energy transition solutions, healthcare, and space. Its overarching goal is to foster innovative and technological solutions that support sustainability and climate neutrality efforts. Dr. Al Jaber noted, “By working closely within these strategic sectors, the UAE and India can accelerate sustainable growth and diversify their economies, promoting industries that are more competitive, efficient, and sustainable.”
Ministerial Perspectives
Minister Goyal underscored the significance of the MoU in opening new avenues for cooperation and establishing an institutional framework for emerging technologies. He stated, “It would help in promoting and developing bilateral cooperation in sectors such as space, healthcare, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and many other vital areas.”
Seven Core Areas of Cooperation
The MoU is structured around seven core areas, each addressing crucial aspects of industrial and technological collaboration:
Supply Chain Resilience: Identifying raw material supply opportunities and sharing best practices in industrial enablement and incentivization.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Advancing energy storage technologies, smart grid and IoT deployment, and research and development in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Health and Life Sciences: Cooperation in pharmaceutical development, biotechnology utilization, and research and development.
Space Systems: Promoting advancements in the space industry through satellite development, space exploration, and space-related materials licensing, in addition to space sector R&D.
Artificial Intelligence: Deploying AI technologies across various sectors, including space, energy, healthcare, and supply chains, with a focus on machine learning and data analytics.
Industry 4.0 and Advanced Technologies: Collaborating on the deployment of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, including real-time data processing, autonomous robotics, and additive manufacturing.
Standardization and Metrology: Cooperation in standardization, metrology, conformity assessment, accreditation, and Halal certification to harmonize standards and facilitate mutual recognition of conformity assessment results.
Comprehensive Collaboration
The partnership will encompass not only industrial and academic collaborations but also collaborative research and development projects, sharing best practices in science and technology policies. This collaborative effort aims to drive sustainable industrial development and foster economic growth in both India and the UAE, while also contributing to global sustainability and technological advancement.
