Dear members of the media,

Good Evening,

Today I commence my first official visit to the Gulf and the West Asia regions, with journeys to the United Arab Emirates and Syria. My visit will, I am confident, reaffirm India's interest to strengthen ties with countries in these regions, which are a part of our extended neighbourhood.

I am visiting the UAE at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. I will be meeting with a wide cross section of the UAE polity and society during my visit, which takes me to Dubai and Sharjah besides Abu Dhabi.

India has enjoyed historic, warm, friendly and multifaceted relations with the UAE. These relations stretch back over millennia and our civilisational links are well known. The Arabian Sea was the ancient highway across which our ancestors exchanged goods, ideas and much more. It is, therefore, no surprise that our ties which flourished through the ages have deepened and broadened in contemporary times. Since the creation of the UAE Federation in 1971, these links have been nurtured and sustained by exchange of high level visits.

Our relationship with the UAE is free of any irritants which enables us to focus on the many positives that define our relationship. I look forward to my discussions with His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, as well as other dignitaries, so that we can look at ways and means to further strengthen our bilateral ties in order to realize the full potential that exists between our two friendly countries.

I will also be interacting with the business community, both Indian and local, in the UAE. Our bilateral trade which stood at a modest figure of around U.S. Dollars 180 million in the early seventies, is today valued at U.S. Dollars 43 billion, which makes the UAE one of our leading trade partners. While emphasizing the possibilities of further expanding our trade, I will highlight the tremendous scope for investing in India's infrastructure. Our fast growing stable economy with its strong fundamentals, makes India an attractive investment destination.

The UAE is one of our leading suppliers of crude oil, playing an important role in the energy security of India. As a country whose energy requirements will increase significantly in the years to come, continued co-operation in this sector is important.

In particular, I look forward to meeting with our countrymen who, thanks to the welcome and encouragement received from the host Government and people, have through their hard work and dedication, contributed to the development and well-being of the host country. Their positive contribution is no doubt a major factor behind the fact that the Indian community is the largest expatriate community in the UAE. My programme includes several elements, which would give me a glimpse of the various facets of the Indian community in the UAE. I would be interacting with the children of the Abu Dhabi Indian School and meeting with the students at the Dubai Academic City. I would also have the opportunity to inaugurate the new premises of the Indian Islamic Centre in Abu Dhabi. The welfare of the overseas Indian community, particularly our workers, is always uppermost in my mind. I am, therefore, happy that I will be inaugurating the Indian Workers' Resource Centre in Dubai.

In the second segment of my tour, I will be visiting Syria which will be the first Presidential visit from India. India and Syria enjoy traditionally friendly ties and cooperate actively in the UN and NAM. Significantly, Syria has expressed support for India's Permanent Membership of the UNSC. India, too, on its part, has always supported all just Arab causes, and has consistently supported the return of the Golan Heights to Syria, which remains occupied by Israel since 1967.

President Bashar Al Assad visited India in June 2008 when I had the opportunity to have an extensive dialogue with him on bilateral, regional and international issues. During my visit, I look forward to continuing discussions with President Assad ( ), with a view to further strengthening our ties. I will also be exchanging views with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Syrian Assembly.

On the economic and business aspects, apart from discussing these with the Syrian leadership, I will be addressing Indian and Syrian business persons and launching the India-Syria Business Council. We seek to increase the level of our bilateral trade which stands at a modest U.S. Dollars 540 million. As Syria intends to open its markets and embark on massive development, there should be plenty of opportunities for India to expand its economic links. Syria is also important to us for our energy security. OVL already has investments there and is looking for more opportunities for oil exploration.

The Indian community in Syria though small compared to our presence in the Gulf countries, is participating in diverse activities in Syria. I will have an opportunity to meet and interact with them. I will be travelling to Aleppo - a historical city in Syria - to visit the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, where many Indian scientists are doing commendable work. I will also meet representatives of the Missionaries of Charity who are doing excellent work in Syria with older persons. I will be visiting AAMAL, a Syrian organization for the disabled managed by Mrs. Asma Al Assad, the First Lady of Syria,

India seeks to further reinforce relations with the UAE and Syria and, it is in this context, that I look forward to my visit to both these countries. I also hope that you have a good trip.

Thank You.