Building on the momentum of the 'New Delhi Declaration', India and the Member States of the League of Arab States (LAS) have announced a massive expansion of their strategic partnership, setting an ambitious goal to double bilateral trade to USD500 billion by 2030.

Currently valued at USD 240 billion, the trade surge is a cornerstone of the newly adopted Executive Program for 2026–2028, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation in energy, space, and counter-terrorism.

The economic pillar of this agreement focuses on empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through joint capacity-building and enhanced market access.

In a significant shift toward financial autonomy, both sides have agreed to explore a local currency settlement mechanism to reduce dependence on foreign currencies and lower transaction costs.

This will be supported by the potential integration of national digital payment platforms, streamlining cross-border financial activity for businesses and the nine million-strong Indian diaspora in the region.

Energy security remains a primary focus, with both regions pledging to move beyond traditional hydrocarbon trade into the future of green energy.

The agreement facilitates reciprocal investments in the oil and gas value chain—including exploration and strategic petroleum reserves—while aggressively promoting collaboration in green hydrogen and clean technologies.

India has also invited more Arab nations to join the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuel Alliance, with the Third India-Arab Energy Forum scheduled for 2027.

The partnership is also reaching for the stars with the establishment of the India-Arab Space Cooperation Working Group, set to hold its first meeting in India in 2027.

This initiative will see Indian institutions training Arab scientists and engineers for joint remote sensing missions focused on climate monitoring, disaster management, and agriculture.

Additionally, a new Startup and Innovation Partnership Platform will be launched to link ecosystems in health-tech and fintech, alongside joint research into the ethical deployment of Artificial Intelligence.

To protect these growing interests, the two sides reaffirmed their "zero tolerance" toward terrorism and radicalization.

The Executive Program includes enhanced coordination in both digital and maritime domains to combat transnational crime.

This multi-dimensional framework, backed by the upcoming 7th India-Arab Partnership Conference in 2026, signals a transformative era in India-Arab relations, moving from a buyer-seller dynamic to a deep-tech and strategic alliance.

Source: ANI