Shashi Tharoor visits UAE and Bahrain; Bahrain reiterates its support for India’s permaNent membership at UNSC; MoS expresses hope that the robust $44 billion bilateral trade with UAE will grow even higher
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  • India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor visited UAE and Bahrain in the first leg of his journey to the Gulf region from October 4-8, 2009. During his visit to Bahrain, Tharoor called on PM Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa. Bahrain reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership at the UN Security Council (UNSC) and reiterated that such a step would be a stabilising influence in the whole region. Bahrain has also committed to support India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for 2011-12, while India has committed to support Bahrain’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in 2026-27.1 Tharoor also discussed the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement and issues relating to the welfare of Indians working in that country.

    Mr. Tharoor also sought the support of the UAE for UNSC permanent membership and urged the strengthening of political and economic relations between the two countries. Tharoor held talks with Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah al Gargawi, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The MoS expressed satisfaction at the $44 billion (Dh160bn) bilateral trade between the two countries last year, excluding Information Technology and urged steps to further develop build on it. Tharoor added that “this is a relationship that India does not take for granted.”2 The Minister also stated that India was ready to work with the UAE in the field of nuclear energy, which he pointed out was following a “creative and forward-looking approach” to cater for its energy security.3

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