-
Letter from Indian PM to H H the Amir handed over to Kuwait PM
-
First Joint Commission meeting to be held in India this year
-
MoU signed on Cooperation of Recruitment of Domestic Workers
-
Joint celebrations of 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait were launched at the meeting.
Indian External Affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar delivered a letter from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al-Sabah, which was addressed to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah
Dr S Jaishankar thanked the leadership for Kuwait’s prompt supply of Liquid Medical Oxygen and other oxygen related supplies to India to fight the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. Both sides discussed the state of bilateral relations and also the developments in the region.
The Indian minister held delegation level talks with H.E. Sheikh (Dr.) Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. The talks were also attended by H.E. Dr. Abdullah Issa Al Salman, Minister of Commerce and Industry. Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchanged views on the regional developments and global issues. They also discussed the challenges posed by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, the distress it caused to the humanity and reiterated their commitment to jointly fight the pandemic and address the myriad of issues that their citizens face such as travel restrictions and issues related to vaccination. The topics covered also included food security, cyber security, cooperation in the energy sector and issues related to the Indian workforce in Kuwait.
Both sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the India – Kuwait Joint Commission Meeting later this year and also to set dates for early meetings of the Joint Working Groups on Health, Hydrocarbon and Manpower. The two sides also agreed to set up new Joint Working Groups in other areas of cooperation.
Both Ministers welcomed the signing of the MoU for Cooperation on the Recruitment of Domestic Workers, which was signed in their presence by Ambassador of India to Kuwait H E Sibi George and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait H.E. Majdi Al Dhafiri. The MoU brings the Indian Domestic Workers in Kuwait within the ambit of a legal framework which streamlines their recruitment and provides them with protection of law. It introduces an Employment Contract which ensures the rights and obligations of both the employer and the Domestic Workers including by endeavoring to establish a mechanism for 24 hours assistance to Domestic Workers. It provides for establishment of a Joint Committee for periodic review and assessment and to follow up the implementation of the MoU which will conduct annual meetings.
The joint celebrations of the establishment of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait were launched at the meeting. The yearlong celebrations will continue through 2021-2022.
In the evening, the Indian minister will chair a Round Table Conference of all Indian Ambassadors in GCC countries and Iran.