What happened?
On 18 September 2025, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal announced in Abu Dhabi that India and the UAE have agreed to target USD 100 billion in non-oil, non-precious metals trade over the next three years. Speaking at a press conference during his two-day visit to co-chair the 13th India-UAE High-Level Task Force on Investments (HLTFI), Goyal highlighted that this new milestone builds on the success of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), under which overall bilateral trade reached USD 100 billion in just three years. He also underlined the focus on diversifying into sectors like textiles, home décor, fisheries, leather goods, food processing, and pharmaceuticals.
Why it matters to India
The new trade goal underscores India’s effort to deepen and diversify its economic ties with one of its closest partners in the Gulf. Expanding non-oil trade strengthens India’s export base, creates opportunities for Indian businesses, and draws more UAE investment into priority sectors. With over 4 million Indians living and working in the UAE, the partnership also reinforces people-to-people ties and positions the UAE as a long-term partner in India’s journey toward becoming a developed economy.