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Pratibha Patil leaves for UAE, Syria; trade, energy security on agenda

Patil, who is visiting the UAE at the invitation of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will be meeting the top leaders in that country on a whole range of issues aimed at further consolidating bilateral ties.

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President Pratibha Patil today left on her maiden visit to the UAE and Syria during which India will be exploring ways to further expand its trade ties and enhance cooperation in the fields of infrastructure investment and petroleum.
 
"My visit will, I am confident, reaffirm India's interest to strengthen ties with countries in these regions, which are a part of our extended neighbourhood," Patil said before leaving on her nine-day tour that will take her to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE and later to Damascus.
 
Noting that India has enjoyed historic, warm, friendly and multifaceted relations with the UAE, she said, "Our relationship with the UAE is free of any irritants which enables us to focus on the many positives that define our relationship."
 
Patil, who is visiting the UAE at the invitation of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will be meeting the top leaders in that country on a whole range of issues aimed at further consolidating bilateral ties.
 
"I look forward to my discussions with His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, as well as other dignitaries, so that we can look at ways and means to further strengthen our bilateral ties in order to realise the full potential that exists between our two friendly countries."
 
Accompanied by a business delegation, the president would be addressing the captains of business and industry in the UAE.
 
Patil said bilateral trade which stood at a modest figure of around $180 million in the early seventies, is today valued at $43 billion, which makes the UAE one of our leading trade partners.
 
While emphasising the possibilities of further expanding our trade, Patil said she will highlight the tremendous scope for investing in India's infrastructure.
 
"Our fast growing stable economy with its strong fundamentals, makes India an attractive investment destination," she said.
 
With UAE being one of our leading suppliers of crude oil, it plays an important role in the energy security of India, Patil said continued co-operation in this sector is important.
 
The highlight of the president's visit to the UAE will be launching of an Indian Workers Resource Centre designed to provide a 24-hour helpline and counselling services to workers from the country who are in distress.
 
The UAE has 1.75 million Indian expatriates, a major chunk of the 5 million Indians in the Gulf region.
 
Patil would inaugurate the new premises of the Indian Islamic Centre in Abu Dhabi.
 
In the second segment of her tour from November 26, the president will be visiting Syria with which India enjoys traditionally friendly ties. Damascus has been actively cooperating with India in the UN and NAM.
 
Significantly, Syria has expressed support for India's Permanent Membership of the UNSC.
 
India, too, on its part, has always supported all just Arab causes, and has consistently supported the return of the Golan Heights to Syria, which remains occupied by Israel since 1967.
 
Patil said she was looking forward to continuing discussions with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, who had visited had India in June 2008, on bilateral, regional and international issues.
 
The President will be addressing Indian and Syrian business persons and launching the India-Syria Business Council.
 
"We seek to increase the level of our bilateral trade which stands at a modest $540 million. As Syria intends to open its markets and embark on massive development, there should be plenty of opportunities for India to expand its economic links," she said, adding Syria is also important to India for its energy security.
 
The president was seen off at Rashtrapati Bhawan by vice president Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh besides Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma and Army Vice Chief PC Bhardwaj.
 
Both the UAE and Syria support the Indian position on Kashmir issue and back New Delhi's quest for a permanent seat in UN Security Council.
 
India's engagement with Syria in the hydrocarbon sector has been rewarding and state-owned OVL has investments in Al-Furat Petroleum Company which has struck oil in one block.
 
Union minister of state for power Bharatsinh Solanki and three MPs are accompanying the president.
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