**Summary:**
On July 1, 2025, India's Union Minister of Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, met with the UAE's Minister of Economy, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, to enhance industrial cooperation between India and the UAE under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) framework. The discussions centered on expanding trade, securing resources, and fostering collaborative innovation in the steel and aluminum sectors. A key objective is for the UAE to support India in achieving its target of 300 million tonnes of steel production by 2030, particularly through ensuring raw material security and promoting energy-efficient production methods.
A primary focus involved the joint development of high-grade steel and aluminum for India's automotive and strategic sectors. Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are playing a crucial role in this partnership. SAIL currently imports approximately 2.5 million tonnes of low-silica limestone annually from Stevin Rock LLC in Ras Al Khaimah and is exploring long-term supply arrangements. NMDC aims to collaborate with UAE-based entities to develop the mining value chain. MECON intends to contribute to oil and gas, steel plant development, and smart infrastructure projects in the Gulf region. SAIL, NMDC, and MECON have established international offices in Dubai to facilitate trade coordination, joint ventures, and technology exchange.
Minister Kumaraswamy proposed the formation of a joint working group to identify CEPA-related opportunities, streamline logistics, and promote long-term collaboration. The meeting emphasized the strategic importance of the UAE to India's industrial growth and invited UAE investors and industry leaders to explore India's steel sector. The discussions concluded with a commitment to advance joint projects and trade frameworks that align with India's objective of becoming a $5 trillion economy.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Heavy Industries India: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to heavy industries.
UAE: The United Arab Emirates, a country in the Middle East, and a key partner with India in industrial cooperation.
H.D. Kumaraswamy: Union Minister of Steel of India.
Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri: UAEs Minister of Economy.
India UAE CEPA: India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, a framework for industrial cooperation.
SAIL: Steel Authority of India Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in India.
NMDC: National Mineral Development Corporation, Indias largest iron ore producer.
Dubai: A city in the UAE where SAIL, NMDC and MECON have recently opened offices to facilitate trade coordination, joint ventures, and technology exchange.
Ministry of Heavy Industries
India and UAE Explore Collaboration in Green Steel
and High-Grade Aluminium
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy Meets UAE
Economy Minister to Boost Industrial & Mineral
Partnerships
UAE’s Role in India’s 300 MT Steel Vision Discussed
Focus on High-Grade Steel & Aluminium for Key
Sectors
Posted On: 01 JUL 2025 5:21PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Steel, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy met with H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE’s Minister
of Economy, as part of a high-level engagement to advance India-UAE industrial cooperation under the India-
UAE CEPA framework. The meeting was focused on trade expansion, resource security, and collaborative
innovation in steel and aluminium. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,
India is forging strong global industrial partnerships that are resilient, resource-secure, and innovation-driven.
Welcoming the opportunity to strengthen bilateral industrial ties, Shri Kumaraswamy emphasized India’s
rapidly growing role as the world’s second-largest steel producer and outlined the nation’s commitment to
green steel, high-value manufacturing, and global supply chain resilience.“India and UAE can be strong partners in green steel production and sustainable industrial growth,” the
Minister stated. “UAE can play a key role in helping India reach its 300 million tonne steel production target
by 2030, particularly by supporting raw material security and enabling energy-efficient production systems.”
High-Grade Steel & Aluminium: Automotive and Strategic Applications
One of the core focus areas of the discussion was the joint development of high-grade steel and aluminium,
which are vital for India’s growing automobile and strategic sectors.
“We see clear synergy in jointly producing and trading high-quality steel and aluminium for use in sectors
such as automobiles, mobility, and high-end manufacturing,” Shri Kumaraswamy said.
The UAE’s clean energy ecosystem, advanced infrastructure, and strategic trade location were acknowledged
as valuable assets in this collaboration.
Public Sector Enterprises Leading Engagement
The meeting also highlighted the active role of India’s CPSEs in anchoring the India-UAE industrial
partnership:
SAIL, a Maharatna CPSE, currently imports approx. 2.5 million tonnes of low-silica limestone
(cid:108)
annually from Ras Al Khaimah’s Stevin Rock LLC. The company is exploring long-term supply
tie-ups and the potential to serve the UAE’s infrastructure and industrial sectors with premium
Indian steel.
NMDC, India’s largest iron ore producer, is keen to collaborate with UAE-based entities in
(cid:108)
developing the mining value chain.
MECON, India’s premier engineering consultancy, aims to contribute to oil & gas, steel plant
(cid:108)
development, and smart infrastructure projects across the Gulf.
All three CPSEs: SAIL, NMDC, and MECON have recently inaugurated international offices in
(cid:108)
Dubai, establishing a permanent platform for trade coordination, joint ventures, and technology
exchange.
Strengthening CEPA Through Structured Mechanisms
Shri Kumaraswamy proposed setting up a joint working group between Indian and UAE stakeholders to
identify specific opportunities under CEPA, streamline logistics, and promote long-term collaboration in key
sectors.“India does not see UAE as just a market, but as a strategic partner in reshaping the global industrial
landscape,” the Minister stated. “We invite UAE investors and industry leaders to visit India and experience
our steel sector’s dynamism firsthand.”
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to advance joint projects and trade frameworks
aligned with India’s goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy.
****
TPJ/NJ
(Release ID: 2141264)