The Hindu Business Line : UAE member woos Indian biz

Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven Emirates that form the UAE, is on a visit to India "to participate in the growth of India and to see how we can become part of this growth".

Participating in the CII Partnership Summit 2007 here, he said the emirate offers foreign investors a transparent and welcoming environment.

There was a one-stop licensing system to guide investors in Ras Al Khaimah. As a result of the initiative, Indian companies like Ashok Leyland have taken the lead in investing in the emirate. The Government has set up the RAK Investment Authority, which aims to build a diverse economy by attracting domestic and foreign investments.

The RAK Investment Authority has set up a $75-million ceramic tile plant in Andhra Pradesh, with capacity to produce 40,000 sq.m per day of all types of ceramic tiles and 2,000 pieces of high-quality sanitary ware. It is weighing options to set up two more plants in Gujarat and probably in Andhra Pradesh.

It also has plans to develop real estate and hospitality projects in the country. The four hospitality projects could be located in South India, especially Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra. The projects would be kicked off in the coming months. The RAK Authority is open to partnering with Indian companies for these projects.

Logistics hub

The Ras Al Khaimah Government wants to develop the emirate "as a good transit point for Indian exporters in the West Asian region." Its strategic location — as the gateway to the Gulf region — makes it an ideal logistics hub in the region. It has a well-developed port too. Also on the cards are plans to make Ras Al Khaimah a tourist destination. The emirate is one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the Gulf region, said the Crown Prince. "You can have a mountainous region — the Hajjar mountains at 1,900 metres, a sea of sand dunes and beautiful beaches... all within half-hour's distance; and of course, a rich history," he added.

The emirate has put in place a plan to promote tourism, `Ras Al Khaimah — Top of the Emirates'. The plan includes a hospitality project, the Al Hamra Village, with 4,000 residential units, four 5-star resort hotels, a marina, an 18-hole championship golf course and a first-class retail area. Another project, Khor Qurm, is leisure development on a 13-km coastal strip.

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