(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Jul 1 (KNN) On Tuesday, India's Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy met His Highness Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), in Dubai, marking a significant step in deeper bilateral cooperation in steel, minerals, and clean energy.

The two leaders pledged to collaborate across multiple fronts: securing long‐term supplies of low‐silica limestone from RAK, developing green‐steel ventures, and exploring green hydrogen projects.

They also touched on boosting India's value‐added steel exports, setting up calcined lime plants powered by RAK limestone and natural gas, and strengthening ties through central public sector enterprises-SAIL, NMDC, and MECON.

Kumaraswamy emphasised that steel is the backbone of infrastructure, mobility, energy, and manufacturing.

He noted RAK's mineral reserves, industrial capacity, and clean‐energy orientation as ideal complements to India's future steel ambitions.

He inaugurated new Dubai offices for NMDC and MECON, which will serve as strategic hubs for mineral asset acquisitions, global supply‐chain diversification, project planning and execution, steel‐plant consultancy, green‐steel and decarbonisation strategies, and advanced manufacturing technologies such as digital twins.

Dubai's strategic location further facilitates outreach across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Currently, SAIL sources about 2.5 million tonnes of limestone annually from RAK's Stevin Rock LLC. With capacity set to increase from 20 to 35 Mtpa, this procurement is expected to rise further.

Overall, the visit reflects India's strategic shift toward global partnerships to secure critical minerals, scale up green‐steel capabilities, and internationalise its engineering expertise-strengthening its industrial diplomacy in the Gulf region.

(KNN Bureau)

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