Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Kuwait, beginning Saturday, will help open a new chapter in bilateral ties, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Kuwait, beginning Saturday, will help open a new chapter in bilateral ties, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
It said the visit would enable a more dynamic partnership between the two countries. The MEA said India could boost ties in various areas, including defense and trade. Modi is paying the visit at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. During the visit, Modi will hold discussions with Kuwait’s leadership and also interact with the Indian community.
The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981. India is one of Kuwait’s key trading partners, and the Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.
Kuwait is one of India’s biggest trading partners, with bilateral trade amounting to USD 10.47 billion during the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude supplier, contributing to 3 percent of India’s energy needs.
Indian exports to Kuwait have crossed USD 2 billion for the first time, while the Kuwait Investment Authority’s investments in India exceed USD 10 billion.
India and Kuwait have enjoyed traditionally friendly relations, with links dating back to pre-oil Kuwait when maritime trade with India was the backbone of its economy.
The economy of Kuwait revolved around its fine harbor and maritime activities, which included shipbuilding, pearl diving, fishing, and voyages to India on wooden dhows carrying dates, Arabian horses, and pearls that were traded for wood, cereals, clothes, and spices, according to people tracking the ties between the two nations.
The Indian Rupee remained legal tender in Kuwait until 1961, symbolizing the country’s enduring economic and cultural ties. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were formally established in 1961 when India was initially represented by a trade commissioner.
