PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, on the UAE's miraculous development, India's extensive relations with Gulf countries, and being partners in the developmental journey of the region.
BIOGRAPHY
Narendra Modi grew up in Vadnagar, India. He entered politics as a youth and quickly rose through the ranks of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu nationalist political party. He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, and is the Member of Parliament for Varanasi. He was elected the 14th prime minister of India in 2014.In the role of Prime Minister, I have traveled to the Gulf region several times before 2018. However, whenever I come here to the UAE, I feel a special attachment. Nearly 1.2 million non-resident Indians have found a home away from their homes in Dubai and across the UAE. For this, India is extremely grateful to the UAE and Dubai.
Dubai and the UAE are unmatched in its use of technology for development. Here the desert sands have been transformed into gold richness, a miracle that has come true. In today's Dubai, there is a vision behind the glory of the tall buildings reaching the sky and behind the imagination of the future. There is also resolution. Behind them are technology, innovation, and enterprise, which is visible in the Museum of Future. This is because the UAE has not only allowed successful experiments in technology to be confined to labs, but in everyday life: what I witnessed in Masdar is a win-win experience.
After several decades, India's relations with Gulf countries have become extremely deep, comprehensive, and vibrant. Today, our dynamics with the Gulf countries are not just confined to a buyer-seller relationship, but have become a true partnership. I was in Abu Dhabi and signed several agreements; one of them, the Lower Zakum Concession, is the first-ever investment of an Indian company in the upstream sector in the Middle East. The brighter aspect of the partnership has begun.
The Indian community not only sowed the seeds of its dreams along with the dreams of local people, but also with the same commitment by considering this place as its own home. India takes pride in that more than 3 million Indians living in Gulf countries, as they have become partners in the developmental journey of this region.
In the UAE, people were surprised when His Highness Crown Prince took the initiative to construct a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi when I came here last time. I would like to express my gratitude to His Highness Crown Prince on behalf of all the 1.25 billion Indians. The construction of a temple is significant also in the form of a bridge of goodwill. We have been raised in a tradition in which a temple and a holy place is an agent of humanity, where a holy place is an agent of harmony. I believe this temple will be unique in terms of architecture, technology, and the message it sends. It will also be an opportunity to make the global community experience the mantra that we have followed to live our lives: the whole world is one family. And because of this, it will also become a medium for acquiring a unique Indian identity. I would like to tell all those who are related to the construction of the temple that the rulers of this place have shown a great deal of respect for India and have given so much respect to India's cultural traditions: it is now our responsibility not to leave any loose ends or commit any mistake.
In a way, a small India resides here. There is not even a single corner in this country where India is not represented. And that is why one can experience extremely well how rapidly India has been changing and the confidence with which 1.25 billion Indians have been moving ahead to realize their dreams.
PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
ndrea Di Gregorio, , Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables , RAK Municipality Department
TBY talks to Andrea Di Gregorio, Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables of the RAK Municipality Department, on the Emirate's overall strategy, specific programs, and early supporters of energy efficiency and renewables.
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Abdulrhman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director General, Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (RAK DED)
TBY talks to Abdulrhman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director General of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (RAK DED), on improving the ease of doing business, key diversification pillars, and the impact of new VAT.
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Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)
TBY talks to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), on offering investors a global platform, creating a one-stop shop, and the strategic comparative advantages of access to the Indian Ocean.
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Manu Mehra, CFO, RAK Investment & Development Office (RAK IDO)
TBY talks to Manu Mehra, CFO of the RAK Investment & Development Office (RAK IDO), on the role of free zones in diversification, the benefits of smart state intervention, and the keys most needed for a strong manufacturing sector.
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Yousef Esmaeel, Chairman, Supreme Committee of Saud Bin Saqr Establishment for Youth Enterprises Development (RAK SME)
TBY talks to Yousef Esmaeel, Chairman of the Supreme Committee of Saud Bin Saqr Establishment for Youth Enterprises Development (RAK SME), on incentivizing young people, working with local government to encourage entrepreneurialism, and the role of SMEs in the UAE marketplace.
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Abdullah Al Abdooli, Managing Director, Al Marjan Island
TBY talks to Abdullah Al Abdooli, Managing Director of Al Marjan Island, on the continuous growth of the real estate market in RAK, its robust investment landscape, and the Emirate's ambitious plans to develop its tourism sector.
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Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President , American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK)
TBY talks to Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), on the consequences of growing global demand for education and AURAK's efforts to attract students from beyond the Emirate.
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Gurumadhva Rao, Vice Chancellor, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU)
TBY talks to S. Gurumadhva Rao, Vice Chancellor of the RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU), on the further development of higher education, its key differentiators, and the need for qualified doctors.
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Taner Topcu, Director, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone’s (RAKEZ) Academic Zone
Taner Topcu holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Anadolu University in Turkey. He is an industry expert with more than 20 years of successful experience in education, hospitality, business development, and customer relations. Prior to joining RAKEZ in 2015, Taner worked at TECOM Investment's Education Cluster in Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, where he worked in operations, business development, and account management. He also worked at Aabar Investments in Abu Dhabi as a Business Development Manager and at Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority as a Director of Engagement Operations.
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