The UAE signed a trade and economic agreement with Congo yesterday, eliminating 99.5% of tariffs on UAE exports and 98% of tariffs on Congolese exports over a period of five years, state news agency Wam reports. The agreement aims to more than double non-oil trade between the countries to USD 7.2 bn by 2032. The UAE and Congo had wrapped talks earlier in December 2023.

The agreement marks the fifth with an African nation, after reaching agreements with Mauritius, Kenya, the Central African Republic, and Morocco.

UAE, India reaffirm strategic partnership: Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday during his first official visit to India, according to a statement. Both sides are looking to deepen ties in trade, AI, space, energy, food security, and tourism, Sheikh Hamdan said. He also met with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to explore cooperation in defence and military partnerships.

Expanding bilateral trade and investment was also discussed at the Dubai-India Business Forum in Mumbai yesterday, Wam reports. India ranks first in the number of foreign firms established in Dubai, as bilateral non-oil trade between Dubai and India surpassed AED 240 bn in 2024, a 20.5% y-o-y increase, following the signing of the trade and economic partnership agreement in 2022, Wam reported elsewhere.

PLUS- State Minister Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan met with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran in Abu Dhabi for consultations on joint efforts to support development, stability, and prosperity across Africa on Monday, according to a Foreign Affairs Ministry statement. The two sides also discussed coordination on sustainable development and investment in African nations.

UAE-Turkey trade cooperation: Foreign Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi also met with his Turkish counterpart Ömer Bolat for the second session of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission, Wam reports. The two sides discussed further collaboration in trade, finance, investment, technology, green economy, and halal accreditation, with Bolat noting that Turkish firms have delivered projects worth USD 17.7 bn in the UAE. The meetings also included the inaugural session of the UAE-Turkey CEPA Joint Committee and a high-level business roundtable to explore investment opportunities and address issues with trade implementation.

AND- UAE and Armenia discuss strengthening relations: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Armenia’s President Vahagn Khachaturyan to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic and investment sectors, Wam reports.

Tags: