India and Georgia are looking to expand their diplomatic and economic engagement, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Georgian counterpart, Maka Botchorishvili, discussing new avenues for cooperation during a meeting in Abu Dhabi on October 15.
The two ministers met on the sidelines of the second edition of Raisina Middle East, an international dialogue being held in the United Arab Emirates. Their discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in trade, business, connectivity, tourism, education and cultural exchanges, alongside reviewing developments in the region.
Jaishankar highlighted the progress in bilateral relations, noting that India’s engagement with Georgia in areas such as trade, tourism and education has been growing. In a post on X, he expressed his interest in broadening cooperation across business, connectivity, culture and people-to-people exchanges. The ministers also discussed current regional developments, reflecting their shared interest in maintaining regular diplomatic communication.
Botchorishvili similarly emphasized the importance of advancing political dialogue and expanding economic ties. In her message on X, Georgia’s foreign minister reaffirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with India and pursuing collaboration in tourism, education, culture and other mutually beneficial sectors.
The meeting comes as both countries seek to build on existing diplomatic relations and identify opportunities for closer engagement. Greater cooperation in tourism and education could encourage more exchanges between citizens, students and institutions, while stronger business links could help companies explore commercial opportunities in both markets.
Connectivity and cultural initiatives also featured among the priorities discussed, underscoring the importance of building relationships beyond traditional political and economic channels.
The talks took place during Raisina Middle East 2026, held in Abu Dhabi from October 14 to 15. The conference’s second edition is being organized by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Jaishankar is visiting the UAE officially and has also held discussions with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Their meeting covered bilateral relations and international issues within the framework of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The Indian minister arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and was welcomed by Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE’s minister of state for international cooperation.
Jaishankar’s engagement with both Georgian and Emirati officials highlights India’s continued diplomatic outreach in the Gulf and beyond. The discussions with Georgia, in particular, reinforce the two countries’ intention to deepen political dialogue and develop practical partnerships across economic, educational and cultural sectors.
