India, Arab League Aim to Double Trade to $500 Billion by 2030

India and the League of Arab States (LAS) have agreed to double their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, following high-level talks held in New Delhi during the India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

The forum, the highest institutional mechanism guiding India’s engagement with the Arab world, was established in March 2002 to formalize dialogue between India and the 22-member Arab bloc spanning the Middle East and North Africa. The New Delhi meeting on Saturday marked the first such gathering in a decade, after the inaugural session in Bahrain in 2016.

Opening the meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the talks were taking place at a time of major shifts in the global order, particularly in West Asia.

“Nowhere is this more evident than in the Middle East, where the regional landscape has changed dramatically over the past year,” he said. “These developments have direct implications for India and its relations with Arab nations.”

Jaishankar co-chaired the meeting with his UAE counterpart, with discussions focused on finalising a cooperation agenda for 2026–28. He said the current framework covers sectors such as energy, environment, agriculture, tourism, human resource development, culture and education.

“India is keen to expand cooperation into contemporary areas such as digital technology, space, start-ups and innovation,” he added.

According to an executive programme released by the Ministry of External Affairs, the roadmap targets an increase in India–LAS trade from the current $240 billion to $500 billion by the end of the decade.

The agreement also includes measures to connect startup ecosystems by improving market access, promoting joint ventures and encouraging investment, particularly in health technology, fintech, agritech and green technologies. In addition, both sides agreed to enhance space cooperation through the creation of an India–Arab Space Cooperation Working Group, with its first meeting planned for next year.

Experts say the partnership is gaining momentum, driven by strong economic complementarities and youthful populations in both regions.

“There is a growing convergence of interests, visions and goals between India and Arab countries,” said Muddassir Quamar, associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of International Studies.

He noted that the summit focused on tapping opportunities in energy security, renewable resources, food and water management, environmental protection, trade, investment, entrepreneurship, technological innovation, education, culture and youth engagement.

“A number of critical decisions have been taken to deepen future cooperation,” Quamar told Arab News. “The potential for growth is immense.”