India, UAE Sign Deal to Boost Trade to $100Bln by 2027

The UAE is India's third-largest export destination after the United States and China. (Getty Images file phto)
The UAE is India's third-largest export destination after the United States and China. (Getty Images file phto)
TT

India, UAE Sign Deal to Boost Trade to $100Bln by 2027

The UAE is India's third-largest export destination after the United States and China. (Getty Images file phto)
The UAE is India's third-largest export destination after the United States and China. (Getty Images file phto)

India and the United Arab Emirates on Friday signed an agreement aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $100 billion from the current $60 billion over the next five years, an Indian foreign ministry statement said.

The accord signed by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UAE Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri is intended at benefiting business through enhanced market access and reduced tariffs. Details were not immediately available.

The two sides set out a roadmap for cooperation in sectors including energy, trade, climate action, emerging technologies, skills and education, food security, healthcare, defense and security.

The UAE is India's third-largest export destination after the United States and China with exports reaching nearly $16 billion for 2020-21. More than 3 million Indians employed in the Gulf state send home billions of dollars in remittances every year.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held a virtual summit and oversaw the signing of the agreement by the two ministers in New Delhi.



Gold Prices Climb on Safe-Haven Demand; US Payrolls Data in Focus

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
TT

Gold Prices Climb on Safe-Haven Demand; US Payrolls Data in Focus

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices climbed on Friday, supported by safe-haven demand arising from the Middle East conflict, while spotlight shifted towards US payrolls report to gauge the trajectory of the Federal Reserve's policy path.
Spot gold was up 0.3% at $2,662.50 per ounce, as of 0325 GMT, after climbing to an all-time high of $2,685.42 on Sept. 26. Bullion has gained 0.2 for the week.
US gold futures edged 0.1% higher to $2,682.10.
The dollar eased 0.1%, pulling back from over a one-month high, making greenback-priced bullion less expensive for other currency holders, reported Reuters.
Geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning Israel and Iran, are supporting gold prices and unless these risks subside, prices are likely to remain near record levels, said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Commodities, Mumbai.
The US is discussing strikes on Iran's oil facilities as retaliation for Tehran's missile attack on Israel, President Joe Biden said, while Israel's military hit Beirut with new air strikes in its battle against Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Bullion is considered a safe investment during times of political and financial uncertainty, and thrives in a low-rate environment.
The US nonfarm payroll data is due at 1230 GMT. New York Fed President John Williams and Chicago Fed President Austan are also scheduled to speak later in the day.
If the NFP report comes in strong, it will be positive for the dollar and then gold prices will see some profit-booking, Kedia added.
Traders see a 69% chance of a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut in November, according to CME FedWatch Tool.
BMI said in a note it expects gold prices to trade within the range of $2,500 to $2,800 in the coming months.
Spot silver rose 0.4% to $32.17 per ounce and has gained about 1.8% so far this week.
Platinum climbed 1.1% to $1,001.79 and palladium advanced 1.4% to $1,013.46.