Team Siliconindia

• India and the UAE are boosting industrial collaboration in steel and aluminum under a broader economic agreement, with a focus on green steel and advanced materials.
• Indian Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy highlighted UAE's role in helping India reach its 300 MT steel capacity target by 2030 through raw material and tech partnerships.
• Indian firms like SAIL and NMDC are strengthening ties with UAE companies for resource security, supply chain stability, and expanded global trade presence via Dubai.

India and the United Arab Emirates are stepping up efforts to enhance their industrial cooperation, specifically in the steel and aluminum industries, through the purview of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement. The recent meeting of Indian Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and UAE Economy Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri focused on the increasing possibility of collaborative efforts, particularly in producing green steel and developing advanced materials for use in auto and other high-tech industries. The two nations know that their industrial capabilities are strategically important to align to enhance sustainable growth and economic development.

Minister Kumaraswamy pointed out that India and the UAE could be potential strong allies for successful attainment of sustainable industrial targets, with a common vision for green technologies. Minister Kumaraswamy added that the UAE could make a major contribution to India's ambitious vision of reaching 300 million tons of steel production capacity by 2030. This can be realized through better cooperation in the procurement of raw materials and the development of energy-efficient steelmaking systems, in line with global climate targets.

Indian firms are already establishing the foundations for strong industrial linkages. Government-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) now imports an estimated 2.5 million tons of limestone annually from Stevin Rock LLC, a prominent mining firm in Ras Al Khaimah. Negotiations are under way to upgrade this into a long-term association, which could also help ensure stable supply chains and low-cost sourcing. Further, SAIL is also pursuing options to ship good quality Indian steel to the UAE, especially for industrial and infrastructure uses where the need for strong materials is high.

India's largest iron ore producer, NMDC, is also talking to Emirati companies to set up an integrated value chain in the mining industry, further enhancing resource security and bilateral trade. SAIL and NMDC have also spread their global reach by opening representative offices in Dubai, reflecting the strategic significance of the UAE as a nerve center for global outreach and facilitation of business.

As part of its long-term vision, India seeks to ramp up its steel output to 500 million tons by 2047. The increasing cooperation with the UAE not only abets this aim but also is an expression of a wider aspiration for sustainable industrial development and strategic global cooperation.