The Government has approved the Memorandum of Understanding between India and the United Arab Emirates on Development Cooperation in Africa. The MoU entails setting up of a framework of cooperation between the two countries for implementing development partnership projects and programs in Africa. The proposal will help strengthen political and economic linkages between India and the countries of Africa and serve our broader strategic interests. The decision to do so was taken at the 12th Joint Commission meeting co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in december last year. It was during their meeting the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for development cooperation in Africa was also signed. The UAE is the sixth-largest source of India`s oil imports and hosts a 3.3 million-strong Indian Community & this MOU will help further enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries.