India-UAE CEPA pushes trade to $37.6 billion in H1 2025
Dubai: The UAE-India Business Council – UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) has released a landmark study highlighting the sweeping impact of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on bilateral trade and investment.
According to the report, covered by Gulf News, non-oil bilateral trade between India and the UAE touched US$37.6 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 33.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The study, titled “Strength in Synergy: Unlocking India-UAE CEPA Global Potential,” was launched following a closed-door meeting in Dubai attended by Piyush Goyal, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, and Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, alongside senior business leaders.
Gulf News reported that CEPA has broadened opportunities in sectors such as gems and jewellery, food processing, telecom, green energy, and digital services. New growth avenues are also emerging in artificial intelligence, space technology, sustainability, and financial integration, making the agreement far more than a conventional trade deal.
The report also stresses the UAE’s role as a preferred hub for Indian high-net-worth individuals and family offices, fostering joint ventures and deepening economic alignment.
Faizal Kottikollon, Chairman of UIBC-UC, described CEPA as a “blueprint for the future.” He said the pact demonstrates how political will and shared vision can build a resilient model of cross-regional cooperation and innovation-led growth.
As Gulf News highlighted, the study recommends enhanced collaboration in clean energy, digital integration, education, research ecosystems, and human capital development, while positioning CEPA within global platforms like BRICS, G20, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
The UIBC-UC paper, reported by Gulf News, concludes that CEPA is not just strengthening trade but also reshaping the long-term strategic and economic partnership between the two nations.
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England sticking with Key, McCullum and Stokes despite Ashes humbling
London (AP): England is not sacking anybody following the 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia.
A review of the tour by the England and Wales Cricket Board, announced within hours of the final match in January, was concluded on Monday. Firing people would “be the easy thing to do,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said but he insisted, "This is not the time to throw everything out."
Managing director Rob Key, coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes kept their jobs after the best England side to go to Australia in 14 years lost the Ashes in 11 days with two games to spare.
“Moving people on can sometimes be the easy thing to do. That's not the route that we're going to take,” Gould said. “I've seen the driving ambition and determination that we're lucky enough to have within our leadership group to take the lessons from the Ashes and move forward.”
Gould previously was the chief executive of Bristol City soccer club and said the ECB would not follow the same route as soccer's hire-and-fire culture.
“Cricket is a very unique sport in that it takes a team of leadership ... it's not like football where there's a single point of failure or success with a manager," he said. He added the ECB would not “select or deselect management based on a popularity campaign.”
The main criticisms of England's tour were poor preparation, player misbehavior, and selection mistakes.
At a press conference at Lord's, Gould and Key said McCullum and Stokes have not had a “bust up,” they did not want McCullum to “completely change” but “to evolve,” the behavior of some players was “unprofessional,” there will be more consequences for underperforming, and a commitment to “better long-term planning” ahead of major test series.
Some changes were already implemented for the Twenty20 World Cup, where England reached the semifinals. Gould implied that performance saved McCullum.
Key acknowledged that England supporters would be disappointed to see the management team go unpunished.
“I know people want punishment and that people then should be sacked for that,” Key said. “That doesn't mean we don't feel like we've gone through some serious pain: Brendon, myself, Ben. It's been as tough a time as I think I've had.”
