An Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in the UAE is a "fantastic opportunity" to connect the two countries academically and intellectually, a top Emirati official has said.
"The important thing is that we make sure Emiratis enrol in the institute," Omar Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of an event at the Expo 2020 Dubai.
He was referring to the recent announcement that the UAE would be home to the first ever IIT campus outside India. It was part of the UAE-India trade deal signed on Friday.
A joint UAE-India vision statement had said: "Confirming the historical relations existing between the two countries and realising the need to establish world-class institutions that encourage and support innovation and technological progress, the leaders agreed to establish an IIT in the UAE."
Ghobash said many CEOs of "top companies" around the world are from the premier institute.
"I was excited when I read that IIT will have their campus here in the UAE," said Ghobash on the sidelines of India Pavilion's 'Festival of Ideas' event.