PM Modi on 2-day Kuwait visit from today, first by Indian Prime Minister in 43 years
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commence his two-day visit to Kuwait beginning Saturday.
Where he will hold talks with the country’s top leadership, interact with the Indian community and visit an Indian labour camp there. PM 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 in a range of key areas, including defence and trade, are expected to be signed. A day ahead of PM Modi’s visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said discussions with Kuwait were on regarding a bilateral investment treaty and a defence cooperation deal.
During the visit, PM Modi is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup, a football tournament.
‘OPEN NEW CHAPTER IN INDIA-KUWAIT TIES’
At a media briefing on Friday, Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs) in the MEA, said the “historic visit” of PM Modi to Kuwait was expected to “open a new chapter” in bilateral ties. “It will not only consolidate the partnership in existing spheres but also unveil new avenues for future cooperation, reinforce our shared values and build a more stronger and dynamic partnership for the future,” he said.
The official also said that around 4,000-5,000 Indians would interact with PM Modi at the ‘Hala Modi’ diaspora event in Kuwait.
PM MODI’S ENGAGEMENTS IN KUWAIT
The Prime Minister will meet with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince and his counterpart. He is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of the Emir. “The visit would help develop a more dynamic partnership between the two countries,” Chatterjee said.
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. The Kuwaiti Crown Prince will also to host a banquet for PM Modi, according to Chatterjee.
Chatterjee said the visit was also expected to boost the ties between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC is an influential grouping comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The total volume of India’s trade with GCC countries stood at USD 184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23.
Kuwait is the current chair of the GCC.
Chatterjee said India was holding negotiations with the GCC for a free trade pact. “We hope both sides will be able to conclude it,” he added.
PLANNED VISIT TO LABOUR CAMP IN KUWAIT
On PM Modi’s planned visit to a labour camp in Kuwait, Chatterjee said the government attached considerable importance to the welfare of all the Indian workers abroad. “The idea of the visit of the prime minister to the labour camp is to express the amount of importance the Government of India attaches to our workers. That is the prime purpose,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Kuwait comes after more than 45 Indians were killed in a devastating fire in a building housing foreign workers in southern Kuwait’s Mangaf locality on June 12. “The Indian Embassy goes and sees the places where the workers are staying to see if they are fit for purpose. The Mangaf incident was unfortunate. Lessons have been learnt from the Mangaf incident,” Chatterjee said.
India is among the top trading partners of Kuwait. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait. The Gulf nation is among India’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24.
The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.