India, UAE Sign Agreement for Potential Energy Grid Connectivity
India and the United Arab Emirates have entered into an agreement to explore the potential establishment of grid connectivity between the two nations, according to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The deal is part of four memorandums of understanding signed during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in ongoing discussions between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. Kwatra mentioned that one of the agreements focuses on renewable energy, encompassing green hydrogen and solar, with considerations for possible grid connectivity in that domain between India and the UAE.
He refrained from providing additional information on the grid connectivity. According to a news report from September 15, 2023, Minister of New and Renewable Energy R K Singh stated that the UAE is keen on establishing subsea connectivity with India. This statement followed India's signing of a comparable agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2023. This connectivity has the potential to enable India to transmit power to locations as distant as Europe. Kwatra mentioned that other agreements encompass various sectors, including logistics, healthcare innovations, and the development of food parks.
In response to inquiries about the sudden departure of UAE's president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan from the VGGS venue earlier in the day, Kwatra chose not to disclose the reasons for it. However, he promptly mentioned that the president's public comments before leaving were positive, and he expressed appreciation for the roadshow the previous evening. The diplomat also opted not to comment on other significant matters, such as the ongoing issues in the Red Sea and India's diplomatic approaches in the Maldivian case, following the critical remarks made by members of the newly-elected cabinet of the island nation in the Indian Ocean.