The President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil has called upon the investor community from the UAE to participate in the growth story of India. Addressing the captains of business and Industry of India and UAE in Dubai on Thursday, she said, India extends a hand of partnership, and invites them to participate in the new phase of rapid development and prosperity on which we have embarked. She said that India is a large and growing market with healthy micro-economic fundamentals and robust banking and financial institutions. This makes India one of the most attractive FDI locations in the world in the expansion of infrastructure, energy and industrial sectors presenting opportunities for investment. The President expressed the satisfaction that the world economic crisis, did affect India to some extent, but the country came out as one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is poised to register a GDP growth rate of over 9 percent in the coming years. She suggested that India and the UAE should increase their participation in specialized trade fairs and exhibitions and institutional arrangements like the India-UAE Joint Business Council and the India-UAE Joint Commission for Economic, Technical and Scientific Co-operation (JCM) should be reactivated. Earlier the President Inaugurated the India Trade and Exhibition Centre (ITEC) at Sharjah in the presence of Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad al Qasami in Sharjah on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion Mrs. Patil urged the ITEC to work in close cooperation with the ASSOCHAM, FICCI, CII and other renowned export promotion organizations in India, to achieve its objectives. Referring to complementarities in trade relations between India and UAE, she said that Agriculture is also a very important field for co-operation as it is the biggest private business in India. The President will leave for Syria on Friday on the second leg of official visit.