UAE-India Business Council Signs MoUs to Deepen Trade Ties

UAE-India Business Council (UIBC) signed three strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to bolster bilateral trade and investment cooperation. These agreements aim to deepen institutional collaboration, enhance the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and expand sectoral and regional linkages across both countries. The move reflects a strong push towards realizing the full potential of the CEPA, signed in 2022, by targeting key service sectors and grassroots facilitation mechanisms.

Key Agreements Signed

The three MoUs mark a significant step in building multi-layered trade and economic frameworks,

1. UIBC and UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC)

This MoU aims to,

• Foster institutional collaboration
• Align on CEPA implementation strategies
• Deepen the UAE-India economic partnership through structured dialogues and cooperation mechanisms

2. UIBC and Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC)

This pact will focus on cooperation in priority services sectors,

• Logistics
• Healthcare
• IT/ITES
• Education
• Tourism
• Engineering

It also promotes B2B and B2G engagements, while addressing market access barriers for service exporters.

3. UIBC and Regional Chambers of Commerce

Partnered with,

• Bombay Industries Association
• Calicut Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry

The goal is to,

• Harness regional industrial strengths
• Facilitate grassroots CEPA implementation
• Boost state-level trade and investment linkages
• Encourage broader industry participation

Significance of the MoUs

These MoUs are designed to make the India-UAE CEPA more actionable and accessible, particularly at the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) and state levels. Key objectives include,

• Creating regional pathways for CEPA utilization
• Promoting innovation and startups
• Bridging the gap between policy and enterprise
• Enabling Indian businesses to scale globally through UAE’s trade networks

These partnerships aim to redefine trade flows, positioning India and the UAE as co-drivers of global trade reconfiguration.

Key Takeaways

• Date: 24 September 2025
• Council: UAE-India Business Council (UIBC)
• Agreements with: UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC), SEPC, Regional Chambers of Commerce
• Key sectors: IT, Healthcare, Logistics, Tourism, Engineering, Education
• Goal: Grassroots CEPA implementation, trade facilitation, B2B and B2G cooperation