NEW DELHI, Feb 22: The IIT to be established in the UAE as per an agreement
between the two countries will be open to Emiratis, the Indian diaspora as well
as international students. The deal launches a collaboration in the field of
higher education, according to the Indian envoy to the UAE. The exact location
and other specifications are yet to be finalised although it is unofficially
stated that it will be located in Dubai.
At present Indian expat students need to visit India for writing the exams
for admissions in the IITs which are conducted through Joint Entrance Examination
(JEE) Mains and Advanced.
In an address to delegates and media ahead of the ongoing Festival of Ideas,
Sunjay Sudhir, the Indian Ambassador, said: “Building on our historical education
links, our leaders have decided to establish an Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT) in the UAE. Hope more such institutions of excellence can come to the
UAE in the future." The IIT’s establishment in the UAE is a part of the India-UAE
trade deal signed on February 18.
“The IIT brand has global recognition. It would be the first time that a campus
of IIT will be set up overseas and the Government of India has chosen the UAE
for this purpose. The IIT so established will be open to Emiratis, the Indian
diaspora as well as international students. It will be a shining example of
how our countries are collaborating in the field of higher education,” the Indian
Ambassador told Gulf News.
India and the UAE signed the historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) that raises the trade between the two countries to US$ 100 billion over
the next five years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed
Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, signed the agreement after a virtual summit
meeting. The IIT forms part of the deal.
“Confirming the historical relations existing between the two countries and
realizing the need to establish world-class institutions that encourage and
support innovation and technological progress, the leaders agreed to establish
an Indian Institute of Technology in the United Arab Emirates," according to
a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are governed by the Institutes of
Technology Act, 1961. There are 23 IITs in the country currently.
India and the UAE also agreed to collaborate to promote start-ups from both
countries to expand into the two regions and utilize such platforms as basis
for growth. The start-ups could focus on, inter alia, fintech, edutech, health
care, logistics and supply chain, agritech, chip design and green energy.
CEPA a boost for labour-intensive sectors
As the UAE is India's third largest trade partner, the agreement is being viewed
by the industry as a landmark achievement to take the collaboration to higher
levels. The CEPA is a boost for labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery,
textiles, leather, footwear, furniture, agriculture and food products, plastics,
engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and sports goods, Commerce
and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said.
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) chairman A Sakthivel said,
“Having a large Indian diaspora, the UAE consumes a large quantity of Indian
cereals, fruits & vegetables, tea, spices, sugar, etc. Indian companies will
gain in services like travel & tourism, transportation, IT & ITES and construction
services. The FTA will also open the market to other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)
countries.”
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has hailed the reduction in customs
duties on over 1,000 products to zero through the CEPA.
