Pradhan to leave on four-day visit to Iran, UAE on Saturday

07 April, New Delhi

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will on Saturday leave for a four-day-long visit to Iran and UAE.

On the first leg of his tour, he will go to Iran where he will meet his Iranian counterpart, Senior Adviser to President of Iran on Free Trade Zones and Governor of Central Bank of Iran in Tehran. He will also address the Tehran Chamber of Commerce.

The Petroleum Minister will visit Chabahar FTZ to interact with FTZ authorities. The last visit by an Indian Petroleum Minister to Iran was in April 2007.The trade relations have traditionally been buoyed by Indian import of Iranian crude oil.

The bilateral trade during the fiscal year 2014-15 was13.13 billion dollar. India imported 8.95 billion dollars worth of goods, mainly crude oil and exported commodities worth 4.17 billion dollars. Pradhan’s visit envisages engaging with the Iranian political leadership to work with them, particularly in the hydrocarbon, petrochemicals and fertilisers sectors for mutual benefits, including strengthening of India’s energy security.

During his visit to UAE from April 11-12, Pradhan will meet Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy of UAE, in Abu Dhabi.He will also meet with CEO of ADNOC and Chairman of AIDA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority). During his stay in Dubai, Pradhan will meet Emirati businessmen, inaugurate India Pavilion at the Annual Investment Meet-2016 at the World Trade Centre, visit Jabel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) and interact with JAFZA authorities.

He is also scheduled to meet Indian businessmen and professionals. The visit of Pradhan to UAE is a follow-up of the February 2016 visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of Energy Al Mazrouei.India-UAE bilateral trade is estimated at 60 billion dollars.