AUGUST, 20259INDIA AND UAE SIGN MOU TO BOOST MARITIME AND DEFENCE COOPERATIONHELIOS BACKS SUN MOBILITY TO EXPAND EV NETWORK IN AFRICAIndia and the UAE reaffirmed their intent to increase defence cooperation even more during the 13th India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) session held at the Secretary level for the first time in New Delhi.The conference was co-chaired by Defence Secretary of India Rajesh Kumar Singh and UAE's Under Secretary of Defence Lt General Ibrahim Nasser M Al Alawi, who is heading a high-level delegation on a two-day official visit.Both nations were content with the developments in bilateral defence cooperation and agreed to facilitate greater cooperation on military training, maritime security, joint manufacturing, and the development of advanced technology. India also proposed offering tailored training courses commensurate with the UAE Armed Forces' specific needs.One of the highlights of the meeting was that the UAE National Guard and the Indian Coast Guard agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve maritime security. The MoU has provisions for cooperation in search and rescue efforts, anti-piracy operations, and response to marine pollution.Negotiations also revolved around defence industry cooperation, with the ICOMM-CARACAL collaboration on small arms production named as a success story. The two nations are also examining collaborative development of new defence technologies such as artificial intelligence, shipbuilding, and platform refurbishment.Before JDCC, there were staff-level talks between the three services on both sides with a focus on training and exchange of specialists. The UAE delegation also takes part in the 2nd India-UAE Defence Industry Partnership Forum, further cementing once again the strategic defence cooperation firmed up through the 2015 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In an effort to increase the usage of electric vehicles and lower emissions, Helios Climate has invested $60 million in SUN Mobility to establish the largest battery swapping network in Africa. This action helps SUN Mobility expand throughout Africa and Southeast Asia in addition to India. Helios Climate made a significant $60 million investment in SUN Mobility in collaboration with Infraco Asia.This money is a portion of $135 million that was recently raised to expand SUN Mobility's cutting-edge battery switching technologies. SUN Mobility plans to extend its renewable energy infrastructure throughout Africa and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, beginning with Kenya.SUN Mobility was established in 2017 and now runs more than 900 battery switching stations that supply electricity to over 50,000 cars. Its open-architecture battery technology is trusted by partners including IOCL, Vitol, and Bosch and suits a variety of electric vehicles, from heavy electric vehicles to two-wheelers. According to SUN Mobility co-founder Chetan Maini,"With over 1.4 million monthly swaps in India and growing global interest, we're excited to extend our proven model to emerging markets like Africa."By separating battery ownership from automobiles, SUN Mobility's technology reduces the initial cost of electric vehicles and makes clean mobility accessible to governments and fleet operators. About 5% of Africa's CO2 emissions come from two- and three-wheelers, and by 2030, the market is predicted to reach almost 2 million vehicles yearly. By encouraging the broad use of electric vehicles, this investment will help reduce emissions and enhance the quality of the air.Tavraj Banga, Partner & Co-Head, Helios Climate, said, "We're proud to support SUN Mobility's entry into Africa to deliver scalable, affordable, and climate-resilient mobility solutions on the continent". TOP STORIESAUGUST, 20259
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