Prime Minister Narendra Modi will accompany PM to Kuwait on two days historic visit on Saturday making him the first Indian PM to set foot in the Middle-Eastern nation in over forty years. The last such a visit was few years back in early 1981 when Indira Gandhi who was the Prime minister then , visited this country.
Modi accepted an invitation by Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the trip will embrace cooperation in trade investment, energy, culture, and community. He has planned the key meetings with Kuwait Crown Prince and Kuwait Prime Minister as part of increasing cooperation.
One of Modi’s main events during the trip will be his meeting with Indian low-wage earners in a labor camp. He will also speak to the Indian community during a ‘Hala Modi’ at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex. He will also participate in the opening ceremony of the Gulf Cup football tournament.
The Ministry of External Affairs says this visit should usher in a ‘new chapter’ in India-Kuwait relations. Describing the proposed talks as highly significant, Secretary for Overseas Indian Affairs Arun Kumar Chatterjee said the items will involve the provisions of a bilateral investment treaty and a defence cooperation accord.
This visit is also important in bilateral relation of India with the GCC, which is headed by Kuwait. The GCC which includes countries such as the UAE, KSA, and Qatar intervening significantly in regional politics and economy.
India and Kuwait have strong and growing trading partners having achieved a value of $ 10.47 billion in the year 2023-24. During this fiscal year, the export of Indian goods enhanced by 34.7% it recordings $2.1 billion out of which Kuwait holds one of the largest share. Kuwait also has the strategic coop- ern and energy potential, currently serving 3% of India’s crude oil demand. Further, the Kuwait Investment Authority has invested more than $10 billion in India, he added.
Modi’s visit is anticipated to give fresh impetus to the existing cooperation and initiate prospects for future collaborations mainly in economic and security context
