New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on two-day visit to Kuwait from December 21-22, in the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the West Asian nation in 43 years.
PM Modi’s visit is at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions with the leadership of Kuwait. Prime Minister Modi will also interact with the Indian community in Kuwait, a statement said.
India and Kuwait share traditionally close and friendly relations which are rooted in history and have been underpinned by economic and strong people to people linkages. India is among the top trading partners of Kuwait. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.
The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted ties between India and Kuwait, the statement said.
Recent high-level meetings include that between PM Modi and Kuwait’s Crown Prince on the sidelines of UNGA in September 2024.
In 2024, the Foreign Ministerial visits from India to Kuwait include that of EAM S Jaishankar on August 18. Similarly, the Foreign Ministerial visits from Kuwait to India include that of Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs from December 3-4. He also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this visit and extended the Kuwaiti leadership’s invitation to visit Kuwait. Both Foreign Ministers also met on the sidelines of 1st India-GCC Strategic Dialogue Committee meeting in Riyadh on September 9.
India and Kuwait have institutionalized their cooperation through mechanisms such as the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) which was established during the visit of the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister to India in December 2024, which is headed at the Foreign Minister level. Seven new Joint Working Groups (JWGs) have been established in the areas of Trade, Investment, Education, Technology, Agriculture, Security, and Culture. These complement the three existing JWGs in Hydrocarbons, Health, and Consular matters, bringing the total number of JWGs to 10 following the signing of the JCC.
Kuwait is among India’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in FY 2023-24. Kuwait is India’s 6th largest crude supplier, meeting 3% of the country’s energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed USD 10 billion.
Indians form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, around 1 million which is present across various sectors in Kuwait and is contributing immensely and serving as a ‘living bridge’ between the two countries.
