A special relationship

The United Arab Emirates and Dubai in particular have a long tradition of trade with India. This tradition dates back hundreds of years, particularly in South India and what is now known as Kerala. Trade routes connecting India and the Arabian Gulf led on to other destinations in South and East Africa and the outside world, taking the best of India and the Middle East to the rest of the world.

This historical association evolved into a rich tradition of trade partnership - a partnership that has flourished well into recent decades. With the support of the ruling family and the late HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Indian expatriates have been able to contribute significantly to the development of Dubai and the Gulf region as a major regional trading hub - fuelling and sustaining economic growth and development. As the national and local economy grew and became more sophisticated, Indian expatriates became key participants in the emergence of new sectors and essential services like healthcare and education.

Today, those early developments and the vision of the late Sheikh Rashid have been transformed; the torch carried even further, beyond the region and into the global arena by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Today's Dubai is a recognised brand, a brand synonymous around the world with innovation, quality and excellence. Projects such as the three Palms and The World, and the specialised economic zones and self-contained satellite developments have captured the imagination of strategic planners, strategists, economists and governments globally. Even members of the public in places far afield in Europe, Asia and the US associate Dubai with innovation and the world's best.

The emergence of Dubai as a new global hub, focused on being the first, the best and the brightest, has raised the profile and recognition of the emirate and paved the way for an influx of inward and foreign investment, businesses and people from around the world. In the midst of this international melting pot, Indian expatriates continue to play a key role in economic development as a skilled workforce, active investors and as entrepreneurs.

Hundreds of thousands of expatriate Indians have worked hard and benefited from the business and economic environment in this country that celebrates excellence and promotes and nurtures an entrepreneurial spirit.

Many have developed and launched world-class, Dubai-born brands globally, just as we have done with GEMS.

The traditional partnership between the UAE and India endures, but it has also evolved and grown to new levels of collaboration. Dubai-born brands such as Emaar, DP World and others have forged strategic relationships and made significant investments in India, demonstrating a strong confidence in its continued potential.

The recent visit to India made by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is also a positive indication of more mutually-beneficial connections to come.

For those of us expatriates who have had the opportunity to be here for a few decades, it has been a great privilege to witness and participate in the incredible rate of growth and development of a relatively young nation that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

Nowhere else in the world has a nation's leadership been so successful in achieving the goals it sets, and providing the policies, resources and foundation to fulfil a steadfast and sure vision. I would like to think that in some small way, all of us expatriates have helped to make this happen.

Sunny Varkey is chairman of the Varkey Group.

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READERS' COMMENTS

UAE,India relations
Posted by Sudhi, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 16 August 2007 at 09:00 UAE time

Mr.Varkey is absolutely right in his views.But I would like to comment on his view that "Nowhere else in the world has a nation's leadership been so successful in achieving the goals it sets, and providing the policies, resources and foundation to fulfill a steadfast and sure vision.I would like to think that in some small way, all of us expatriates have helped to make this happen".I strongly believe that Indian Government is not able to project the contribution of Indian expatriates and it failed to get a special consideration to expatriates here. Indians are able to bring results, but not paid on their performance especially the young talented ones.They are exploited here.

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