“I am lucky that the UAE awarded me its highest civilian award,” he said (File)
Abu Dhabi:
Noting that this is his seventh visit to the UAE in the past 10 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed gratitude for the Zayed Medal, the UAE’s highest civilian award, conferred on him in 2019 and said the honor was not only Just for him, but also for the tens of millions of Indians and Indian communities living in the Gulf country.
While speaking at the ‘Alan Modi’ event in Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister also mentioned the growing bilateral ties between the two countries and said the UAE was India’s third largest trading partner and seventh largest investor.
He said: “I am lucky that the UAE has awarded me the highest civilian award – the Zayed Medal. This honor belongs not only to me but to tens of millions of Indians and to all of you.”
The Prime Minister was greeted with chants of “Modi, Modi” before he began speaking to the Indian community from different parts of the Gulf country.
“Let us create memories that will last a lifetime, memories that you and I will cherish forever. I am here to meet you, my dear family. I bring a message from 1.4 billion Indians, it is simple yet profound – Bala So proud of you,” he said.
“Your enthusiasm paints a beautiful picture of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you,” he added.
The Prime Minister, who arrived in Abu Dhabi earlier in the day on a two-day visit to the UAE, mentioned his bilateral meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to advance cooperation between the two countries. comprehensive strategic partnership.
“I remember my first visit (to the UAE) was in 2015, when I had just come to the Center for a while. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the UAE after three decades. The diplomatic world was new then, and the then Crown Prince and today The president and his five brothers met me at the airport.
That warmth, the light in their eyes – I will never forget it… This welcome is not just for me alone but for 1.4 billion Indians,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our relationship is one of talent, innovation and culture. In the past, we have energized our relationship in every direction. Both countries have moved forward side by side and together. Today, the UAE is India’s third largest trading partner. Today, The UAE is the seventh largest investor. The two countries have conducted a lot of cooperation in “facilitation of life” and “convenience of doing business”…
“Even today, the MoU signed between us continues to deliver on this commitment. We are integrating our financial systems. In the areas of technology and innovation, the partnership between India and the UAE is growing stronger. In the area of community and culture, India -What the UAE has achieved is a model for the world,” he added.
There has been palpable enthusiasm among the Indian community for the “Alan Modi” event, with organizers having to close registration last week as attendance exceeded 65,000 people.
On the second day of his visit to the UAE, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. After visiting the UAE, Prime Minister Modi will head to Doha for the second leg of his two-nation visit.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
