India-UAE Joint Committee on Consular Affairs holds 5th meeting in New Delhi
| 2024-05-16
Representative image.
Both delegations engaged in extensive dialogues to address critical focal areas deliberated over the years
The 5th meeting of the India-UAE Joint Committee on Consular Affairs (JCCA) was held in New Delhi on Wednesday (May 15 ,2024) in keeping with ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation in this field.
The meeting was co-chaired by Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary (CPV & OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Khaled Belhoul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.
According to information released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two sides held wide-ranging discussions on mechanisms to strengthen coordination and co-operation on Consular issues.
The talks covered:
Labor and Welfare - This was a significant point of discussion given the large Indian expatriate community in the UAE, which numbers over 3.5 million and is the largest expatriate group in the country.
Visa Facilitation and Migration - Enhancing visa processes to facilitate easier travel and exchange between India and the UAE is expected to further strengthen the already robust bilateral relationship.
Data Exchange and Best Practices - Data exchange is intended to provide both governments with accurate and up-to-date information to better serve their citizens. Additionally, the sharing of best practices in consular affairs was emphasized to improve consular services and address common challenges.
Citizen-Centric Consular Mechanisms -This is aimed at ensuring that the consular services provided by both nations are efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of their citizens.
The issues taken up during this meeting will be followed up and reviewed at the subsequent Consular Dialogue, which is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi.
India and UAE enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relationship which is built on the deep bonds of friendship between both sides. The relationship between the two countries, which was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, encompasses all areas of mutual cooperation – political, economic, trade, commerce, defence, cultural, technology and energy, with people-to-people ties forming the bedrock.
The meeting was co-chaired by Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary (CPV & OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Khaled Belhoul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.
According to information released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two sides held wide-ranging discussions on mechanisms to strengthen coordination and co-operation on Consular issues.
The talks covered:
Labor and Welfare - This was a significant point of discussion given the large Indian expatriate community in the UAE, which numbers over 3.5 million and is the largest expatriate group in the country.
Visa Facilitation and Migration - Enhancing visa processes to facilitate easier travel and exchange between India and the UAE is expected to further strengthen the already robust bilateral relationship.
Data Exchange and Best Practices - Data exchange is intended to provide both governments with accurate and up-to-date information to better serve their citizens. Additionally, the sharing of best practices in consular affairs was emphasized to improve consular services and address common challenges.
Citizen-Centric Consular Mechanisms -This is aimed at ensuring that the consular services provided by both nations are efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of their citizens.
The issues taken up during this meeting will be followed up and reviewed at the subsequent Consular Dialogue, which is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi.
India and UAE enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relationship which is built on the deep bonds of friendship between both sides. The relationship between the two countries, which was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, encompasses all areas of mutual cooperation – political, economic, trade, commerce, defence, cultural, technology and energy, with people-to-people ties forming the bedrock.
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