New Delhi, April 8: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will visit Iran and UAE for three days from April 9. During his visit to Iran Pradhan will meet Iranian Minister of Petroleum, Senior Adviser to Iranian President on Free Trade Zones and Governor of Central Bank of Iran in Tehran. He will also address the Tehran Chamber of Commerce. He will be visiting Chabahar FTZ to interact with FTZ authorities. The last visit by an Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister to Iran was in April 2007. India and Iran share historic bilateral relations with substantial economic engagements, covering many sectors.
The trade relations have traditionally been buoyed by Indian import of Iranian crude oil. The bilateral trade during the fiscal year 2014-15 was US $ 13.13 billion. India imported US $ 8.95 billion worth of goods, mainly crude oil and exported commodities worth US $ 4.17 billion. The visit of Pradhan envisages engaging with the Iranian political leadership to work with them, particularly in the hydrocarbon, petrochemicals and fertilizer sectors for mutual benefits, including strengthening of India’s energy security.
During the visit to UAE from 11-12 April, Sh Pradhan will meet HE 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 HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of Energy H E Al Mazrouei.
Pradhan will be accompanied by senior officials from his Ministry and also from Departments of Petrochemicals, Fertilizers and Economic Affairs, apart from CMDs/MDs and officials from Central Public Sector Oil and Gas, Fertilizers, Shipping and Metal companies. Representatives of private Indian companies involved in petroleum, petrochemicals and fertilizers sectors will also be travelling along with him as part of a FICCI delegation.
