Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his two-day visit to Kuwait from Saturday, where he will hold talks with the country’s top leadership, interact with the Indian community and visit an Indian camp there. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Gulf country will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years.
During the Prime Minister’s visit, agreements are expected to be signed in many important sectors, including defense and trade. A day before Prime Minister Modi’s visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the talks with Kuwait were about a bilateral investment agreement and a defense cooperation agreement.
During this trip, PM Modi is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup, a football tournament.
‘OPEN A NEW CHAPTER IN INDIA-KUWAIT TIRES’
At a press conference on Friday, Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs) in the MEA, said Prime Minister Modi’s “historic visit” to Kuwait is expected to “open a new chapter” in bilateral relations.
“It will not only strengthen the relationship in the existing sectors but it will also reveal new ways of cooperation in the future, strengthen our shared values ​​and build a strong and powerful partnership for the future,” he said.
The official also said that around 4,000-5,000 Indians will interact with PM Modi at the ‘Hala Modi’ diaspora event in Kuwait.
ENGAGEMENT OF PM MODI IN KUWAIT
The Prime Minister will meet the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince and his colleagues. He visited Kuwait at the invitation of the Emir. “The visit will help develop stronger relations between the two countries,” Chatterjee said.
The Prime Minister will review together with the leadership of Kuwait all types of bilateral relations including in the fields of trade, investment, energy, culture and people-to-people contacts.
The Crown Prince of Kuwait will also host Prime Minister Modi’s reception, according to Chatterjee.
Chatterjee said the visit is expected to boost relations between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The GCC is an influential group that includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. India’s total trade with GCC countries stands at USD 184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23.
Kuwait is the current chairman of the GCC.
Chatterjee said India is holding talks with the GCC on a free trade agreement. “We hope that both sides will be able to conclude,” he added.
SCHEDULED VISIT TO A LABOR COMPANY IN KUWAIT
On PM Modi’s scheduled visit to Kuwait camp, Chatterjee said the government attaches great importance to the welfare of all Indian workers abroad.
“The idea of ​​the prime minister’s visit to the labor camp is to show the importance of the importance that the Government of India attaches to our workers. That is the main purpose,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Kuwait comes after more than 45 Indians died when a massive fire broke out in a building housing foreign workers in south Kuwait’s Mangaf area on June 12.
“The Indian ambassador is going to see the places where the workers are sitting to see if they are ready to carry out the mission. The Mangaf incident was unfortunate. A lesson has been learned from the Mangaf incident,” said Chatterjee.
India is among Kuwait’s top trading partners. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.
The Gulf country is among India’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade worth USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24.
The last Prime Minister of India to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
(with input from PTI)
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