PM Modi leaves for 2-day visit to Kuwait, to hold talks with crown prince
This story was originally published at 13:12 IST on 21 December 2024
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NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday left for a two-day visit to Kuwait where he will hold talks with his counterpart, the Crown Prince, and the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. "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," Modi said in his departure statement.
Modi's visit to Kuwait is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years, after Indira Gandhi, who visited the Gulf Nation in 1981. "I look forward to my meetings with His Highness the Amir, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Kuwait. It would be an opportunity to chalk out a roadmap for a futuristic partnership for the benefit of our people and the region," Modi said. He will also address a 'Hala Modi' diaspora event, visit a labour camp, and attend the Arabian Gulf Cup's opening ceremony.
"The Prime Minister will review with the Kuwaiti leadership the entire spectrum of bilateral ties including in areas of trade, investment, energy, culture and people-to-people contacts," Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary Overseas Indian Affairs in the Ministry of External Affairs, had said at a media briefing on Friday.
During Modi's visit, several agreements are also lined up to be signed between India and Kuwait, including on defence and trade. Around 14 agreements between India and Kuwait are at different stages of finalisation. The Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation has been finalised for signing at an appropriate occasion. Kuwait has also been invited to join the International Solar Alliance and Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Kuwait has conveyed its in-principle concurrence to join the International Solar Alliance.
In the hydrocarbon sector, Kuwait remains a reliable supplier of crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas to India. The Joint Working Group on hydrocarbons has been meeting regularly at the level of Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Oil of Kuwait. The 6th meeting was held virtually on Jul. 31, 2023. India has proposed to host the next Joint Working Group in India.
As regards bilateral relations, India has consistently been amongst the top trading partners of Kuwait. Total bilateral trade with Kuwait in 2023-24 (Apr-Mar) was $10.47 billion. End
US$1 = INR 85.01
Reported by Shahid K. Abbas
Edited by Ashish Shirke
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