Union Minister for Steel, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, H. D. Kumaraswamy, embarked on a strategic three-day mission to the United Arab Emirates (June 30–July 2), leading a high‑powered delegation of senior officials and leaders from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), NMDC and MECON. The visit aimed to forge deeper industrial collaboration in steel and green manufacturing under the India‑UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), hosted the minister on June 30. They discussed collaboration opportunities in mineral sourcing including long‑term access to low‑silica limestone and green‑steel initiatives, leveraging RAK’s strength in clean energy and minerals.
Kumaraswamy met UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri in Dubai. The two leaders emphasized expanding trade, resource security and forging joint innovation in steel and aluminium value chains. Kumaraswamy stressed: India and UAE can be strong partners in green steel production and sustainable industrial growth, underscoring shared ambitions to scale India’s capacity and tap energy‑efficient production techniques. A major highlight was the inauguration of representative offices for SAIL, NMDC and MECON in Dubai-SAIL’s office located in Business Bay-to reinforce India’s industrial footprint and facilitate trade facilitation and technology exchange.
The delegation also toured key industrial infrastructure sites, including Stevin Rock quarries in RAK, RAK Port, Emirates Global Aluminium and Conares Steel in Jebel Ali-paving the way for future collaborations. Looking ahead, Kumaraswamy proposed creating a joint India‑UAE working group under the CEPA framework. This would help identify and streamline sector‑specific industrial and infrastructure projects, enhancing long‑term cooperation in steel, minerals, and green technology.
