Indian embassy holds gala Republic Day reception

THE TIMES KUWAIT REPORT
Indian Ambassador H.E. Dr. Adarsh Swaika hosted a gala reception at the Regency Hotel on 29 January to mark the 76th Republic Day of India.
A large gathering of diplomats, Indian nationals and friends of India attended the colorful reception where talented young dancers entertained the gathering with traditional Indian dances. The Chief guest on the occasion was the Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Dr. Mahmoud Bushehri.
In his address to the gathering, Ambassador Swaika expressed his appreciation for the wise leadership of Kuwait, particularly His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al Sabah, for their unwavering support, dedication, and efforts to strengthen and develop bilateral relations between Kuwait and India.
He further highlighted the deep and historic relations between India and Kuwait across various fields. He described Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kuwait as marking a “new and important stage” in bilateral relations, positioning the two countries as “strategic partners.”
Ambassador Swaika emphasized that India aligns with Kuwait on various fronts, particularly in advocating for peaceful resolutions to global conflicts. He commended Kuwait’s humanitarian diplomacy, which is well recognized in international forums and organizations.
The Indian ambassador highlighted that Kuwait and India share a profound understanding of mutual interests, particularly in investment and trade. He pointed out that India is one of the largest and most important players in this domain, alongside Kuwait, emphasizing the strong economic ties between the two countries through companies and institutions.
Moreover, Ambassador Swaika stated that the Indian community in Kuwait has grown to over one million people, contributing across various sectors, particularly in construction and infrastructure, where Indian companies play a key role. He expressed optimism that the development of bilateral relations between India and Kuwait will continue to thrive, reaching new heights under the wise leadership of both nations.
Ambassador Swaika highlighted that since the adoption of its constitution, India has successfully fulfilled many of the promises outlined in the document. He reviewed several key milestones and figures that reflect the country’s progress and accomplishments over the years.
Furthermore, he emphasized that India is the largest country with a democratic political system and stable leadership. It is currently the fifth-largest economy globally and is poised to become the third-largest soon. He also pointed out that 65 percent of India’s population is under the age of 35, making it the largest country in terms of young workers, particularly in sectors like the pharmaceutical industry, where India is known as “the pharmacy of the world.”
Ambassador Swaika mentioned that India is the third-largest incubator of new start-ups globally, and that 50 percent of electronic payment transactions worldwide take place in India.
Importantly, Ambassador Swaika highlighted that India has made significant progress in infrastructure development over the past decade, having built more than 80 airports, increasing the total to 150, and is currently paving 28 kilometers of highways and 18 kilometers of railways every day.
For his part, Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs, Ambassador Samih Hayat, who participated in the celebrations to mark India’s 76th Republic Day, emphasized that the military cooperation agreement between Kuwait and India, signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait in December, will not remain merely symbolic. He affirmed that its provisions will be actively implemented and put into action.
He added that Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kuwait reaffirmed the enduring historical ties between the two nations. He also noted that the visit would be followed by more high-level exchanges, with political consultations between the two countries already taking place in Kuwait, and the next round set to occur in New Delhi.
Ambassador Hayat further explained that consultations between Kuwait and India are ongoing, with workshops being held in various sectors. He emphasized that the reports from these workshops will be reviewed, and based on their findings; steps will be taken to sign additional memoranda of understanding to further develop and strengthen bilateral relations.
Moreover, during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Kuwait, we were keen to elevate our existing strong relations to a strategic level. This step was long overdue, but it has now been realized.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al-Mishaal, highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Kuwait and India, spanning over a century. He noted that the signing of the memorandum of understanding for military cooperation marked an important step forward, and that Kuwait is currently in discussions with India on ways to further enhance cooperation in defense and military matters.