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Sheikh Khaled and Narendra Modi review growing UAE-India economic and strategic ties. The leaders examined progress under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA, which has become a key structure for boosting trade relations. Topics also included political relations, energy collaborations, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connections. They explored how current bilateral mechanisms could facilitate further cooperation in commerce and institutions based on existing agreements between the UAE and India. Representing the UAE, Sheikh Khaled attended the BRICS Summit on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi welcomed the UAE delegation during India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship. Both parties committed to ongoing collaboration within BRICS on shared interests. They also acknowledged recent high-level visits, including Sheikh Mohamed’s trip to India in January 2026 and Modi’s visit to the UAE in May. Economic expansion through new investment initiatives Investment was a key topic, especially concerning India’s industrial sector. The leaders expressed approval of International Holding Company’s announced $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, which India regards as its largest integrated aluminium investment. They also discussed L’Imad, the UAE’s latest sovereign fund, and its potential to support existing bilateral investment channels connecting Emirati capital with Indian projects and economic activities. The conversation extended to defence, space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation, highlighting the broadening scope of their partnership, which already includes energy, manufacturing, logistics

Consumer price data shows transport and food led Oman’s annual inflation in August. Transport costs saw an 8.5% increase from August 2025, the highest annual rise among key consumer sectors. Food and non-alcoholic drinks followed with a 7% growth. Personal goods and services grew by 6.1%, while restaurants and hotels went up by 3.6%. Furniture, household equipment, and routine maintenance costs increased by 3.1%. Education prices rose by 2.2%, and healthcare expenses went up by 1.7%. Meanwhile, prices for culture and recreation rose a modest 0.4%. Several other categories experienced more limited changes. Clothing and footwear edged up by 0.1%, and communication and tobacco prices remained stable compared to the previous year. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuels declined by 0.6%. The August data also revealed regional disparities within Oman’s governorates, with annual inflation rates ranging from 2.1% in Dhofar to 4.8% in Al Dhahirah, according to official consumer price figures. Transport and Food Lead August Price Surge Al Dhahirah registered the highest annual inflation at 4.8%, followed by Muscat at 3.9%, and Al Dakhiliyah at 3.8%. Al Wusta’s rate was 3.4%, with Musandam and Al Buraimi each at 3.3%. South Al Sharqiy

During his official state visit to Germany, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan convened with influential German business leaders and top corporate figures in Berlin. The session, a high-level roundtable with executives, provided detailed briefings on various company operations, industrial development, and technological breakthroughs across Europe’s key manufacturing regions. This meeting marked a step towards expanding cross-border trade, joint investments, and strategic partnerships between the two nations in vital markets.

India and Russia are stepping up initiatives to grow non-energy trade and mutual investments as both countries aim for $100 billion in yearly bilateral commerce by 2030. At the INNOPROM India 2026 industrial trade fair, officials presented strategies to reduce India’s sizeable trade deficit by increasing exports of pharmaceuticals, auto parts, textiles, and agricultural goods to Russia. This trade framework, supported by 40 active priority investment projects and strengthened local-currency payment mechanisms, seeks to foster industrial cooperation and resilient cross-border supply chains across Eurasia.

UAE investment in Germany targets industry, AI, digital infrastructure and energy. A major component of the UAE’s investment plan centers on digital infrastructure. The two governments revealed plans to develop advanced data centres with a combined capacity of about 1 gigawatt in Germany. Their joint declaration also addressed artificial intelligence, industrial growth, and energy projects. Germany committed to creating a supportive environment for the implementation of these data-centre investments. These initiatives build upon an already growing economic partnership between the UAE and Germany in technology, manufacturing, energy, and other commercial sectors.

During an official visit to Berlin, the United Arab Emirates and Germany expanded their international partnership through the signing of 12 governmental accords and declarations, as UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz observed. These agreements encompass sectors such as investment, energy, technology, aviation, security, environmental policy, legal affairs, and culture. Additionally, both nations launched a Strategic Dialogue aimed at coordinating efforts across multiple government sectors. This initiative builds upon their longstanding Comprehensive Strategic Partnership initiated in 2004.

Gold prices hovered above $4,400 an ounce on Thursday, reversing an earlier dip from the prior session. Spot gold increased by 0.3% to $4,414.28 at 0419 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery declined slightly by 0.1% to $4,457.20. The US dollar stayed subdued during Asian trading, bolstering bullion valued in the currency. Gold ended Wednesday near the higher levels seen late in the previous day after bouncing back from earlier losses.

Panama Canal is exploring the possibility of further reducing daily vessel transits as its water sources remain strained by persistent dry conditions. Ilya Espino de Marotta, the canal’s administrator, indicated that transit numbers could fall to around 29 ships daily in February or March 2027. Any additional restrictions will depend on the ongoing drought severity and reservoir water levels.

German automaker Volkswagen AG agreed Monday to sell its Osnabrück manufacturing plant to Israeli private equity firm Aurelius Capital and the German state of Lower Saxony, setting up the site’s conversion into a dedicated defense manufacturing facility. Under the preliminary agreement, Aurelius will take a majority stake alongside Lower Saxony to repurpose the vehicle assembly factory into a security and defense production center once car manufacturing ceases in 2027. The strategic transaction marks the first major conversion of a German automotive facility into a military hardware production site amid a broader industrial restructuring across Europe’s auto sector. The location will host an initial anchor project with Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to supply air defense components for European security markets.

SEOUL / RankWire.AI / – South Korea and African partner nations are set to unveil a significant framework for economic cooperation centered on artificial intelligence and technology-led growth during the 8th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Ministerial Conference in Seoul. Marking the 20th anniversary of this bilateral platform, the upcoming event will gather cabinet ministers, development financiers, and tech industry leaders. Confirmed plans include Korea and Africa shaping a new direction for AI digital infrastructure development along emerging trade routes, while reviewing two decades of joint investments.