India
oi-Deepika S
New
Delhi,
July
14:
The
UAE
will
invest
$2
billion
USD
to
develop
a
series
of
integrated
food
parks
across
India,
the
I2U2
joint
statement
said.
India
will
provide
appropriate
land
for
the
project
and
will
facilitate
farmers’ integration
into
the
food
parks.
U.S.
and
Israeli
private
sectors
will
be
invited
to
lend
their
expertise
and
offer
innovative
solutions
that
contribute
to
the
overall
sustainability
of
the
project.
The
leaders
of
India,
Israel,
United
Arab
Emirates,
and
the
United
States
have
agreed
on
increasing
the
joint
investment
in
6
important
areas
of
water,
energy,
transport,
space,
health
and
food
security
at
the
meeting
of
the
“I2U2”
Group.
India
pitches
for
food
security
steps
at
WTO
meet
I2U2,
unique
grouping
of
countries
aims
to
harness
the
vibrancy
of
our
societies
and
entrepreneurial
spirit
to
tackle
some
of
the
greatest
challenges
confronting
our
world,
with
a
particular
focus
on
joint
investments
and
new
initiatives
in
water,
energy,
transportation,
space,
health,
and
food
security.
“We
intend
to
mobilize
private
sector
capital
and
expertise
to
modernize
infrastructure,
advance
low
carbon
development
pathways
for
our
industries,
improve
public
health
and
access
to
vaccines,
advance
physical
connectivity
between
countries
in
the
Middle
East
region,
jointly
create
new
solutions
for
waste
treatment,
explore
joint
financing
opportunities,
connect
our
startups
to
I2U2
investments,
and
promote
the
development
of
critical
emerging
and
green
technologies,
all
while
ensuring
near-
and
long-term
food
and
energy
security,”
the
joint
statement
said.
“We
reaffirm
our
support
for
the
Abraham
Accords
and
other
peace
and
normaliaation
arrangements
with
Israel.
We
welcome
the
economic
opportunities
that
flow
from
these
historic
developments,
including
for
the
advancement
of
economic
cooperation
in
the
Middle
East
and
South
Asia,
and
in
particular
for
the
promotion
of
sustainable
investment
amongst
the
I2U2
partners,”
it
added.
“We
also
welcome
other
new
groupings
of
countries,
such
as
the
Negev
Forum
for
regional
cooperation,
that
recognize
the
unique
contributions
of
each
partner
country,
including
Israel’s
ability
to
serve
as
an
innovation
hub
connecting
new
partners
and
hemispheres
to
strategically
address
challenges
that
are
too
great
for
any
one
country
to
manage
alone,”
it
further
said.
The
leaders
discussed
innovative
ways
to
ensure
longer-term,
more
diversified
food
production
and
food
delivery
systems
that
can
better
manage
global
food
shocks.
Highlights
of
I2U2
meet
Food
Security:
The
UAE
–
home
to
the
International
Renewable
Energy
Agency
(IRENA)
and
host
of
COP28
in
2023
–
will
invest
$2
billion
USD
to
develop
a
series
of
integrated
food
parks
across
India
that
will
incorporate
state-of-the-art
climate-smart
technologies
to
reduce
food
waste
and
spoilage,
conserve
fresh
water,
and
employ
renewable
energy
sources.
India
will
provide
appropriate
land
for
the
project
and
will
facilitate
farmers’ integration
into
the
food
parks.
U.S.
and
Israeli
private
sectors
will
be
invited
to
lend
their
expertise
and
offer
innovative
solutions
that
contribute
to
the
overall
sustainability
of
the
project.
These
investments
will
help
maximize
crop
yields
and,
in
turn,
help
tackle
food
insecurity
in
South
Asia
and
the
Middle
East.
Clean
Energy:
The
I2U2
Group
will
advance
a
hybrid
renewable
energy
project
in
India’s
Gujarat
State
consisting
of
300
megawatts
(MW)
of
wind
and
solar
capacity
complemented
by
a
battery
energy
storage
system.
The
U.S.
Trade
and
Development
Agency
funded
a
feasibility
study
for
the
$330
million
USD
project.
UAE-based
companies
are
exploring
opportunities
to
serve
as
critical
knowledge
and
investment
partners.
Israel
and
the
United
States
intend
to
work
with
the
UAE
and
India
to
highlight
private
sector
opportunities.
Indian
companies
are
keen
to
participate
in
this
project
and
contribute
to
India’s
goal
of
achieving
500
GW
of
non-fossil
fuel
capacity
by
2030.
Such
projects
have
the
potential
to
make
India
a
global
hub
for
alternate
supply
chains
in
the
renewable
energy
sector.
The
leaders
expressed
their
determination
to
leverage
well-established
markets
to
build
more
innovative,
inclusive,
and
science-based
solutions
to
enhance
food
security
and
sustainable
food
systems.
The
leaders
also
welcomed
India’s
interest
in
joining
the
United
States,
the
UAE,
and
Israel
in
the
Agriculture
Innovation
Mission
for
Climate
initiative
(AIM
for
Climate).
They
affirmed
that
these
are
only
the
first
steps
in
a
long-term
strategic
partnership
to
promote
initiatives
and
investments
that
improve
the
movement
of
people
and
goods
across
hemispheres,
and
increase
sustainability
and
resilience
through
collaborative
science
and
technology
partnerships.
Story first published: Thursday, July 14, 2022, 17:13 [IST]