India, Arab League to discuss entire gamut of bilateral issues

NEW DELHI: Entire gamut of bilateral issues including trade, investment and energy security will figure prominently during deliberations between India and Arab League here on Friday as both sides will explore ways to further deepen two-way engagement.

Situation in West Asia, particularly in Iraq and Syria, is also expected to be discussed at the first session of the India-Arab League Senior Officials Meeting which is taking place as per Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the two sides signed in December last year.

The pact mandated invigorated cooperation in a variety of sectors. Arab countries are key for India's energy security. The Gulf region accounts for over 60 per cent of India's oil and gas requirement.

The Indian side will be led by Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), in the Ministry of External Affairs while the Arab side will be led by Widadi Ould Sedi Heiba, Ambassador of Mauritania to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Permanent Delegate to the Arab League.

During the meeting, the two sides will deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues, covering trade and investment, energy, environment protection, agriculture and food security, human resource development, culture, education and media, the External Affairs Ministry said.

Additionally, consultations will be held on a broad range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

India and the Arab countries historically enjoy close relations.

The Senior Officials Meeting will provide a new platform for elevating the engagement to a high level for realizing the true potential of the relationship.

This will be followed by two other important events within this month -- the India-Arab Cultural Festival in Algiers on 20-27 November and the India-Arab Business Partnership Conference in New Delhi on 26-27 November.