Kuwait City: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Kuwait on Saturday for a two-day visit during which he will engage with the Indian diaspora and hold bilateral talks with the country’s leadership to strengthen India-Kuwait ties.
Modi is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years.
“Landed in Kuwait to a warm welcome. This is the first visit by an Indian PM in 43 years, and it will undoubtedly strengthen the India-Kuwait friendship across various sectors. I look forward to the programmes scheduled for later today and tomorrow,” PM Modi said in a post on X and shared pictures of his arrival.
PM Modi gets traditional welcome in Kuwait
Upon his arrival in Kuwait, the prime minister was greeted with an Indian classical dance and musical performance by the diaspora in Kuwait City.
#WATCH | Kuwait: Prime Minister Narendra Modi watches a performance by the artists, in Kuwait City
PM Modi is on a 2-day visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait. This is the first visit of an Indian Prime… pic.twitter.com/udJtBr8MuP
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2024
In his departure statement, he said his talks with top Kuwaiti leadership would be an opportunity to chalk out a roadmap for a futuristic partnership between India and Kuwait.
“We deeply value the historical connection with Kuwait that has been nurtured over generations. We are not just strong trade and energy partners but also have shared interest in peace, security, stability and prosperity in the West Asia region,” he said.
Modi expressed his anticipation for meetings with the Emir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait. He will also attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
India is one of Kuwait’s top trading partners, and Modi is expected to meet the vibrant Indian diaspora there. The Indian community is the largest expatriate group in Kuwait.
Indians make up 21 percent (1 million) of Kuwait’s total population and 30 percent of its workforce (approximately 900,000). Indian workers lead both the private sector and domestic sector (DSW) workforce, according to the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
Kuwait is a key trading partner for India, with bilateral trade reaching USD 10.47 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. Kuwait is also India’s sixth-largest supplier of crude oil, meeting 3 percent of the country’s energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait have surpassed USD 2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India have exceeded USD 10 billion.
