NEW DELHI: In a significant move to deepen innovation and entrepreneurial ties, the UAE–India CEPA Council (UICC), in collaboration with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in India, launched the UAE–India CEPA Start-up Series at a high-profile event held at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.

The initiative is a key outcome of the UAE–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and aims to support the internationalisation of Indian start-ups by linking them with the UAE’s dynamic innovation ecosystem.

Delivering the keynote address, UAE Ambassador to India, Dr Abdulnasser Alshaali, highlighted the UAE’s strategic focus on entrepreneurship: “Start-ups are central to the UAE–India economic corridor. This Series connects India’s brightest entrepreneurial minds with the UAE’s world-class ecosystem—supporting scale-up journeys and enriching our shared innovation landscape.”

The launch comes at a time of accelerating economic ties between the two nations. In FY 2023–24, bilateral trade reached USD 83.64 billion, a nearly 15% year-on-year increase since the CEPA came into effect. Notably, India’s non-oil exports to the UAE surged by over 20%, while UAE foreign direct investment (FDI) in India tripled to USD 3.35 billion in FY 2022–23, making the UAE India’s fourth-largest investor.

The event also featured the signing of key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the UICC and leading Indian academic and innovation institutions, including:

These partnerships aim to foster regional innovation, research exchange, and entrepreneurship support.

Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UICC, presented the vision and roadmap of the Start-up Series, announcing that the program will culminate in a prestigious pitch event in New Delhi. Five winning start-ups will receive a UAE soft-landing package, including:

More than 100 stakeholders from India’s start-up, investment, and policy ecosystem attended the event, which also featured the unveiling of the official Start-up Series microsite and a promotional video calling for applications.

The application window is now open until 31 July 2025. Start-ups can apply at: https://start-upseries.cepacouncil.com

The UICC is a dedicated bilateral platform established under the CEPA to accelerate trade, investment, and innovation between the UAE and India by facilitating strategic partnerships between businesses, governments, and institutions.