Indian PM’s visit consolidates centuries-old ties

The Times Kuwait Report

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kuwait on a two-day official visit on 21 December, at the invitation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. On arrival at the Amiri terminal, the Indian premier was received by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, and other high-ranking officials.

On Sunday, the Indian Prime Minister met with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the Bayan Palace. He was received on arrival at the palace by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and other dignitaries. His HIghness the Amir and Prime Minister Modi recalled during their meeting the strong historical and friendly ties between the two countries and re-affirmed their full commitment to further expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders also discussed key issues of common concern, and latest developments on the regional and international arenas. They also agreed to elevate the existing bilateral relationship between the two nations to a strategic partnership. The Indian premier expressed appreciation for the new initiatives being undertaken by Kuwait to fulfill its Vision 2035, and congratulated His Highness the Amir for successfully hosting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in early December.

Prime Minister Modi also thanked His Highness the Amir for ensuring the well-being of the over a million-strong Indian community in Kuwait, and extended an invitation to His Highness the Amir to visit India. His Highness the Amir reciprocated the Indian prime minister’s sentiments and expressed appreciation for India’s role as a valued partner in Kuwait, and said he looked forward to the greater role of India towards realisation of Kuwait Vision 2035. He also expressed appreciation for the contribution of the vibrant Indian community in Kuwait’s development.

During the visit, His Highness the Amir also bestowed on Prime Minister Modi Kuwait’s highest honor, the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer, for his role in strengthening relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi thanked His Highness the Amir and dedicated the award to the long-standing friendship between India and Kuwait, to the Indian community in Kuwait, and to the 1.4 billion people of India. The award added special significance to the premier’s visit, as the Order instituted in 1974, has been conferred only on select global leaders.

The Indian premier also held discussions with His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah,and fondly recalled his meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in September of this year. In his talks with the Crown Prince, the Indian premier conveyed that India attaches utmost importance to its bilateral relations with Kuwait.

The two leaders also welcomed the elevation of their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. They also emphasized the close coordination between both sides in the UN and other multilateral fora. The Indian prime minister also expressed confidence that India’s relations with the GCC countries will be further strengthened under Kuwait’s Presidency of the GCC. His Highness the Crown Prince also hosted a lunch banquet in honor of the visiting Indian premier.

During his visit to Kuwait, the Indian prime minister held delegation-level discussions with his Kuwaiti counterpart, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The two leaders discussed a roadmap to strengthen the strategic partnership in areas including political, trade, investment, energy, defence, security, health, education, technology, cultural, and people-to-people ties.

Prime ministers of both countries also emphasized the need to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries. The Indian premier invited a delegation comprising the Kuwaiti Investment Authority and other stakeholders to visit India to look at new opportunities in the fields of energy, defence, medical devices, pharma, and food parks, among others. The leaders also discussed cooperation in traditional medicine and agricultural research.

The two premiers also welcomed the recent signing of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) under which new Joint Working Groups (JWC) in the areas of trade, investment, education, technology, agriculture, security and culture have been set up in addition to the existing JWGs on Health, Manpower and Hydrocarbons.

Following the delegate-level talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several bilateral agreements and MoUs by delegates from both sides. These included an overarching Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defense, which institutionalized defense cooperation in training, exchange of personnel and experts, joint exercises, supply of defence equipment, and collaboration in research and development.

Besides the MoU on defence cooperation, three other MoUs were inked on the occasion. The first,to facilitate a cultural exchange program, the second, an executive program on cooperation in the field of sports, and finally, a framework agreement on Kuwait joining the International Solar Alliance. India and Kuwait already enjoy robust bilateral relations in several areas including in energy and healthcare.

Kuwait is among India’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at US$10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude supplier, meeting three percent of the country’s energy needs. The Indian community, comprising over a million people, is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait and Indians constitute 21 percent of the total population and account for 30 percent of the workforce in Kuwait.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi visited Indian workers at a labor camp in Mina Abdullah, operated by Gulf Spic Company that employs over 1,500 Indian workers. The prime minister shared snacks with the workers and interacted with a cross-section of workers from various states of India. Later in the afternoon he attended a community event titled ‘Hala Modi’ at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Stadium in Sabah Al-Salem area.

Addressing the gathering at the ‘Hala Modi’ event, the Prime Minister pointed out that the relationship between India and Kuwait is one of civilizations, seas and commerce. Noting that India and Kuwait have consistently stood by each other, he added that the India-Kuwait relationship has been profoundly enriched by the Indian community, and they play a pivotal role in fostering ties between the two nations.

The premier also expressed appreciation for the hard work, achievement, and contribution of the community to the development of Kuwait, which, he said, was widely recognized and appreciated by the Kuwaiti government and society. The premier also thanked the leadership of Kuwait for the welfare of the Indian community.

Elaborating on India’s rapid progress and transformation, especially in the fields of technology, infrastructure and sustainability, the prime minister noted that in India, smart digital systems are no longer a luxury, but have become an integral part of the everyday life of the common man. He pointed out that apart from being the fifth largest economy in the world, India was the global leader in fintech, the third largest global player in the start-up space and among the most digitally connected societies worldwide.

Reflecting on the shared aspirations of the two countries, India’s Viksit Bharat and Kuwait’s Vision 2035 New Kuwait Development Plan, Prime Minister Modi said that there were huge opportunities for India and Kuwait to work together for their mutual benefit. He also pointed out that India’s skill capacities and innovation could foster new partnerships between the two countries.

The prime minister concluded his address to the community by stressing that India of the future will be a hub of global development and the growth engine of the world. He added, “As a ‘vishwa bandhu’, a friend to the world, India is moving forward with a vision that seeks greater global good.”

Earlier on arrival during the community welcoming event, Prime Minister Modi interacted with two Kuwaiti nationals, Abdullah Al Baroun and Abdul Lateef Al Nesef, and lauded them for translating and publishing the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata in Arabic. Last October, in his monthly radio program, ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the premier had thanked the Kuwaitis for promoting Indian heritage on a global platform. He added that their work was,”not just a translation, but a bridge between two great cultures that helps develop a new understanding of Indian literature in the Arab world.”