News Analysis India

Tag: United Arab Emirates

  • PhonePe Launches UPI Payments For Users In UAE; Check Details Here |

    New Delhi: PhonePe, a leading digital payment service in India has recently made an announcement regarding its expansion into international markets. Now, travelers heading to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can conveniently make payments using PhonePe’s platform. Phonpe has partnered with Mashreq Bank to enable individuals traveling to the Middle East to conduct UPI transactions using Neopay terminals situated at various locations.

    Ritesh Pai, who serves as the CEO for International Payments at PhonePe, stated, “With this partnership, customers can now conveniently transact through UPI, a payment method they are familiar with. Enabling digital payments not only reflects PhonePe’s commitment to convenience but also embraces the evolving needs of today’s travellers.”

    NEOPAY Terminals are currently accessible at retail shops, restaurants, and various tourist spots and entertainment venues. This cooperation is made possible through Mashreq’s collaboration with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), wherein Mashreq has authorized NEOPAY Terminals to accept UPI apps as a method of payment.

    To complete the payment, an individual only needs to scan the QR code and input the desired amount. The deduction from the account will be in Indian rupees, with the currency exchange rate clearly displayed, as per the statement.

    Furthermore, this service is accessible to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who possess UAE mobile numbers. To make payments, they must download the PhonePe app and connect their existing NRE and NRO accounts to enable transactions.

    PhonePe also mentioned that in addition to supporting travel and local purchases, the company aims to introduce inward remittance services once the infrastructure for such transactions is established.

  • Migratory houbara bustard from UAE rescued in coastal Maharashtra 

    By PTI

    PUNE: A houbara bustard bred in the United Arab Emirates has been rescued from the coastal Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra, officials said.

    The bird is in good health and it would be released in the desert area of Rajasthan or Gujarat, the winter habitat of these birds, they said.

    Local Range Forest Officer Rajendra Ghunakikar on Saturday said, “A farmer at Mundage village in Devgad tehsil spotted an exotic-looking bird with a ring on its leg on Thursday evening and alerted forest officials. We went there and took it in our custody.”

    The bird is currently kept in a facility at Kankavali in the district and is in fine health, he added.

    Sujit Narawade, the assistant director and coordinator at the Bombay Natural History Society, said some institutes in the UAE breed these birds in captivity and release them in large numbers as part of conservation efforts.

    “These birds generally migrate to the Thar and Kutch deserts every winter from the Middle East. Sometimes a bird or two stray from the flock and fly to the coastal region of Konkan,” said Narawade, who is also the project coordinator of Conservation of Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican.

    “The houbara bustard found in Sindhudurg had a ring and colour band which provided information about its origin. When we contacted the National Avian Resource Centre in Abu Dhabi, they confirmed that the bird was from a flock released by them,” he said.

    They also advised that it should be released in the desert region of Gujarat or Rajasthan, he added.

    Deputy Conservator of Forests S Navakishore Reddy said that they were in talks with forest officials in the two states and will soon decide where it should be released.

    PUNE: A houbara bustard bred in the United Arab Emirates has been rescued from the coastal Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra, officials said.

    The bird is in good health and it would be released in the desert area of Rajasthan or Gujarat, the winter habitat of these birds, they said.

    Local Range Forest Officer Rajendra Ghunakikar on Saturday said, “A farmer at Mundage village in Devgad tehsil spotted an exotic-looking bird with a ring on its leg on Thursday evening and alerted forest officials. We went there and took it in our custody.”

    The bird is currently kept in a facility at Kankavali in the district and is in fine health, he added.

    Sujit Narawade, the assistant director and coordinator at the Bombay Natural History Society, said some institutes in the UAE breed these birds in captivity and release them in large numbers as part of conservation efforts.

    “These birds generally migrate to the Thar and Kutch deserts every winter from the Middle East. Sometimes a bird or two stray from the flock and fly to the coastal region of Konkan,” said Narawade, who is also the project coordinator of Conservation of Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican.

    “The houbara bustard found in Sindhudurg had a ring and colour band which provided information about its origin. When we contacted the National Avian Resource Centre in Abu Dhabi, they confirmed that the bird was from a flock released by them,” he said.

    They also advised that it should be released in the desert region of Gujarat or Rajasthan, he added.

    Deputy Conservator of Forests S Navakishore Reddy said that they were in talks with forest officials in the two states and will soon decide where it should be released.

  • UAE’s META4 lines up Rs 250 crore investment for electric two-wheeler plant in Telangana

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: United Arab Emirates (UAE) based business group META4 on Monday said it will invest Rs 250 crore to set up an electric two-wheeler manufacturing plant in Telangana.

    The group has inked a pact with the state government in this regard.

    As part of the agreement, the Telangana government will provide 15 acres of subsidised land to the company in Zaheerabad, Telangana.

    META4 said it is making the investment through Voltly Energy, which provides advanced EV two-wheeler manufacturing and delivers energy-efficient EV charging solutions for all electrified vehicles.

    “With this investment, META4 intends to bring quality-driven EVs to the Indian market in accordance with the FAME 2 approvals set by the Indian regulatory authority, and it will simultaneously enable space towards a strong economic drive in electric mobility,” META4 Group CEO Muzammil Riyaz said in a statement.

    To produce cutting-edge products, the new manufacturing plant will have major automation integration, including the latest semi-robotics and cutting-edge manufacturing machinery, he added.

    The manufacturing plant, with an initial production capacity of 40,000 units, would help create nearly 500 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs in the state, Riyaz said.

    “We not only aim to serve our customers in India but also export vehicles to other global markets,” Voltly Energy Director Aditya Reddy stated.

  • PM likely to visit UAE by first half of next month

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the first half of next month which would be his first trip abroad in 2022, people familiar with the development said on Monday.

    Both sides are looking at firming up the visit around January 6 but there is no finality on the dates yet, they said.

    The prime minister’s proposed visit to the strategically important Gulf nation comes as the two countries look at celebrating 50 years of their diplomatic ties.

    Modi is also expected to visit the ongoing Dubai Expo during the visit.

    Both India and the UAE have been holding talks to firm up a comprehensive free trade agreement to further boost economic ties and there is a possibility of forwarding movement on it during the visit.

    In reflection of their growing strategic ties, India and the UAE recently became part of a new four-nation grouping that is expected to be focusing on issues relating to trade and investment. The other two members are the US and Israel.

    The ties between the two countries witnessed a major upswing following Modi’s visit to the UAE in 2015 as it marked the beginning of a new phase in partnership.

    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, visited India in 2016. He again visited India in January 2017 as the chief guest at the Republic day celebrations. It was during this visit that the bilateral relations were upgraded to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.

    Prime Minister Modi visited UAE again in February 2018 for the 6th World Government Summit in Dubai, where India was the guest of honour. He visited the UAE again in August 2019 to receive the UAE’s highest civilian award, ‘the Order of Zayed’.

    The UAE is home to over 3.3 million Indians who have been playing a key role in overall cultural and people-to-people ties between the two sides.

    In August, Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited India.

    The bilateral defence and strategic ties between the two countries have also witnessed steady expansion.

    In December last year, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane travelled to the UAE and it was the first-ever visit by a head of the Indian Army to the Gulf nation.

    In July, then Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visited the UAE, in reflection of the growing strategic ties.

  • Sushma to inaugurate Gandhi-Zayed digital museum for peace in UAE

    External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will inaugurate a digital museum in Abu Dhabi showcasing the life, works and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and the founder of modern UAE Shaikh Zayed.

    The Gandhi-Zayed Digital Museum, which will promote peace, tolerance and sustainability, is part of the celebrations to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and centenary celebrations of the birth of Shaikh Zayed, an official statement said.

    Swaraj will be on a two-day visit to the UAE from December 3-4, where she will co-chair the 12th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Economic and Technical Cooperation with her counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

    The Museum will showcase rare photographs, videos and objects representing the life, works and philosophy of both renowned leaders.

    The soft launch of the museum will take place at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, Indian embassy in the UAE said in a statement.

    The interactive museum aims to celebrate the similarities, the influence they had, and the change they caused.