PM Modi Leaves Kuwait: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Kuwait has ended and he has also left for India. During this, Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah came to see him off at the airport. This warmth of these leaders reflects the warmth and respect shared between the two countries, which is an important moment in their ongoing bilateral relations.
Earlier, India and Kuwait on Sunday (December 22) expanded their ties to a strategic partnership with wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Modi and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah along with other Kuwaiti leaders. Also signed an agreement to strengthen defense relations. Apart from the Emir, Modi also held extensive talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, focusing on giving new momentum to overall bilateral relations. Had a conversation.
These agreements were signed
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two Prime Ministers discussed a roadmap to strengthen the strategic partnership in various sectors including trade, investment, energy, defence, security, health, education, technology and people-to-people ties in the delegation-level talks. of. Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs) in the ministry, said the defence-related Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is for cooperation in defense industries, supply of defense equipment, joint exercises, training, exchange of services of personnel and experts and research and development. Will provide cooperation in areas.
During this period, other MoUs were also signed which will facilitate cooperation in the fields of sports, culture and solar energy. In the meetings, the Indian side also expressed keen interest in intensifying its cooperation with the influential grouping through Kuwait’s chairmanship of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). PM Modi and the Amir focused on promoting ties in the information technology, pharmaceutical, fintech, infrastructure and security sectors in their discussions held at Bayan Palace. The Prime Minister thanked the Amir for ensuring the welfare of over one million Indians in Kuwait, while the Kuwaiti leader praised the community’s contribution to the Gulf country’s development journey.
What did PM Modi say?
In a post on X, Modi said his meeting with the Amir was “excellent”. “Wonderful meeting with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah,” he said. We discussed cooperation in key areas such as pharmaceuticals, information technology, fintech, infrastructure and security.” Modi said, “In line with the close ties between our countries, we have elevated our partnership to the strategic level and I am optimistic that Our friendship will develop even more in the times to come.
PM Modi arrived here on Saturday on a two-day visit, which is the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to this Gulf country in 43 years. Modi was given a ceremonial welcome on his arrival at the Bayan Palace and was received by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. In his meeting with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Modi said that India attaches utmost importance to its bilateral relations with Kuwait.
‘India-Kuwait relations will strengthen’
“The leaders acknowledged that bilateral relations are progressing well and welcomed their expansion to a strategic partnership,” the Foreign Ministry said, adding that the two leaders also discussed bilateral relations between the two sides at the United Nations and other multilateral fora. Emphasized close coordination between. “The Prime Minister expressed confidence that India-GCC relations will further strengthen under Kuwait’s chairmanship,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The Crown Prince of Kuwait hosted a banquet in Modi’s honour. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the talks between the Prime Minister and the Emir focused on exploring ways to take India-Kuwait relations to “new heights”. In their discussions, Modi and the Kuwaiti Emir recalled the strong historical and friendly relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their full commitment to further expand and deepen bilateral cooperation.
Kuwait is taking initiatives to fulfill Vision 2035
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Prime Minister thanked the Amir for ensuring the well-being of more than one million people of the Indian community in Kuwait. It said Modi appreciated the new initiatives being taken by Kuwait to fulfill its ‘Vision 2035’ and congratulated the Emir for successfully hosting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit earlier this month. Gave. The GCC is an influential grouping that includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. India’s total trade with GCC countries in the financial year 2022-23 was US $ 184.46 billion.
Modi also expressed gratitude for inviting him as a ‘special guest’ to the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Arabian Gulf Cup’ on Saturday. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the Amir respected Modi’s sentiments and appreciated India’s role as a valuable partner in Kuwait and the Gulf region. The statement said that Kuwaiti leaders expect a greater role and contribution from India towards realizing Kuwait’s ‘Vision 2035’.
PM Modi invites Kuwait PM to visit India
The Prime Minister also invited the Amir to visit India. The Gulf country is one of India’s top trading partners and bilateral trade between the two countries stood at US $ 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude oil supplier, meeting three percent of the country’s energy requirements. Indian exports to Kuwait reached US$2 billion for the first time, while Kuwait Investment Authority’s investments in India exceeded US$10 billion. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.
Also read: ‘India is building temples all over the world’, what did Pakistani experts say on the Arabic version of Ramayana-Mahabharata in Kuwait?
