Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that implementations of multiple economic reforms in India have significantly improved the ease of doing business in the country. He was addressing business leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in order to boost India’s trade and investment relations with the Gulf nations.

At the meeting, PM Modi outlined the changes that had resulted in India climbing 30 places last year in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings to break into the top 100 countries.

The PM said, “Dubai is an example for the world. For development, Dubai is a great driver of technology. While talking about technology, PM Modi said that technology has become a big medium of global change. It has empowered the common man via minimum government, maximum governance. In E-governance, the E stands for effective, efficient, easy, empowered, and equitable.”

PM Modi said India has created an innovative ecosystem via the Start-up India programme.

“India’s Mars orbiter mission has seen success greater than what they show in Hollywood movies. If you take taxi, the cost won’t be less than Rs. 10 per km, but for Indian Mission to Mars, the cost was Rs. 7 per km,” said PM Modi.

On the subject of technology, PM Modi stated that “the 6 R’s — reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, redesign, re-manufacture — and technology will take us to a point where we can rejoice”.

PM Modi is on his second visit to the UAE. The trip comes at a time of tensions within the GCC caused by a standoff between Qatar and some members led by Saudi Arabia.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar took to Twitter saying, “Taking India story to the business leaders! PM Modi painted the vision of a new India and shared the ease of doing business in India with the business leaders from GCC countries”.

Taking India story to the business leaders! PM @narendramodi painted the vision of a new India and shared the ease of doung business in India with the business leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council countries. #MarhabaNamaste pic.twitter.com/KWWVbFYlL0

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 11, 2018

Earlier, PM Modi met the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“Strengthening our comprehensive strategic partnership! … The two leaders had an engaging discussion on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security and people-to-people contacts,” Kumar added.

Strengthening our comprehensive strategic partnership! PM @narendramodi met with Vice President and PM of UAE @HHShkMohd in #Dubai. The two leaders had an engaging discussion on expanding our cooperation in trade & investment, defence & security and people-to-people contacts. pic.twitter.com/9q58F17znd

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 11, 2018

On Saturday, India and the UAE signed five MoUs, including in the areas of energy and railways, following delegation-level talks headed by Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan here.

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While the UAE is one of the largest suppliers of crude oil to India, it is also the 10th largest investor in India in terms of foreign direct investment, having invested an estimated $8 billion.

As of 2016-17, India-UAE trade stood at around $52 billion, making India the largest trading partner of the UAE. The UAE the fourth largest trading partner of India.