Kuwait City: India and Kuwait upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership on Sunday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive discussions with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The talks, which took place at the Bayan Palace, aimed at revitalising bilateral ties, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in sectors like information technology, pharmaceuticals, fintech, infrastructure, and security.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held a productive meeting today at the Bayan Palace, Kuwait, based on a partnership built on shared values and vision. Both sides exchanged views on a range of bilateral topics, focusing particularly on strengthening economic cooperation.
Modi thanks Emir
During the meeting, Modi expressed gratitude to the Emir for ensuring the welfare of the over one million Indians residing in Kuwait. In turn, the Kuwaiti leader acknowledged the significant contributions of the Indian community to Kuwait’s development. On social media, the PM described the meeting as “excellent” and expressed optimism about the future of India-Kuwait relations. He also said that the two countries had elevated their partnership to a strategic level, highlighting key areas of cooperation such as pharmaceuticals, IT, fintech, infrastructure and security.
Modi’s arrival at the Bayan Palace was met with a ceremonial welcome, and he was received by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. This marks the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Kuwait in 43 years. The discussions also touched on the shared historical ties between the two countries and the commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation.
PM lauds Kuwait’s Vision 2035
The prime minister commended Kuwait’s progress towards its Vision 2035 and congratulated the Emir for successfully hosting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit earlier this month. Kuwait is a significant partner for India, with bilateral trade reaching USD 10.47 billion in 2023-24.
Apart from that, Kuwait is India’s sixth-largest supplier of crude oil, meeting 3% of its energy needs. The Indian community is the largest expatriate group in Kuwait, and investments from the Kuwait Investment Authority in India have surpassed USD 10 billion. Modi also invited the Emir to visit India, signalling the desire to further cement the strategic partnership between the two nations.
