India, Kuwait elevate ties to strategic partnership following PM Modi’s talks with top Kuwaiti leadership
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 22:
During his current two-day visit to the Gulf Nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Kuwait’s highest honour ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ on Sunday. The honour – the Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer – is a knighthood order of Kuwait.
Prime Minister Modi was bestowed the honour by Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. PM Modi was given the award in recognition of his services towards strengthening the bilateral relations between the two nations, according to KUNA, Kuwait’s state-run news agency.
This is the 20th international honour given to PM Modi by a country, officials said. The order is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns and to members of foreign royal families as a sign of friendship between the two countries. It has been previously awarded to foreign leaders like Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and George Bush.
On the second day of his visit, PM Modi met with Kuwait’s Amir and discussed bilateral cooperation in major sectors of the economy. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said, “Excellent meeting with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. We discussed cooperation in key sectors like pharmaceuticals, IT, FinTech, Infrastructure and security. In line with the close ties between our nations, we have elevated our partnership to a strategic one and I am optimistic that our friendship will flourish even more in the times to come.”
India and Kuwait on Sunday elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
In their discussions, the two leaders focused on boosting ties in areas of information technology, pharmaceuticals, fintech, infrastructure and security.
In a post on ‘X’, Modi described his meeting with the Emir as “excellent”.
“Excellent meeting with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. We discussed cooperation in key sectors like pharmaceuticals, IT, FinTech, Infrastructure and security,” he said.
“In line with the close ties between our nations, we have elevated our partnership to a strategic one and I am optimistic that our friendship will flourish even more in the times to come,” he added.
Modi arrived here on Saturday on a two-day trip, the first to this Gulf nation by an Indian prime minister in 43 years.
The prime minister has also met Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the talks between the prime minister and the Emir focused on exploring ways to take India-Kuwait ties to “new heights”.
PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the Emir for the welfare of the Indian community in Kuwait, he said.
On Saturday, Modi addressed an Indian community event and visited an Indian labour camp. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.
The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
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.
Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude supplier, meeting 3 per cent 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 exceeded USD 10 billion.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Gulf Spic Labour Camp in Kuwait, where he interacted with Indian workers and highlighted their contribution to the country’s development. PM Modi spoke about the aspirations of Indian workers, linking them to his vision for a “Viksit Bharat 2047” (Developed India 2047).
Interacting with the Indian workers, he stated, “I talk about Viksit Bharat 2047 because the labour brothers of my country who have come so far to work also think about how an international airport can be made in his village. This aspiration is the strength of my country.”The Prime Minister also emphasised the hard work of Indian farmers and labourers. “I keep thinking the whole day about how hard our farmers work, how hard our labourers work in the fields,” he said.
He expressed that seeing their dedication motivates him to work harder, adding, When I see all these people working hard, I feel that if they work for 10 hours, then I should also work for 11 hours if they work for 11 hours, then I should also work for 12 hours.”
PM Modi also shared his personal motivation, saying, “Do you work hard for your family or not? I also work for my family, there are 140 crore people in my family, so I have to work a little more.”
Further, PM Modi also noted that India now has the cheapest data rates globally, making communication easier for people everywhere. PM Modi stated, “India has the cheapest data (internet) and if we want to talk online anywhere in the world or even in India, then the cost is much less. Even if you do video conferences, the cost is very low. People have a great convenience, they can speak to their family members every evening through video conference.”
PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the Gulf nation of 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 by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in 43 years. On his arrival, PM Modi was received by Kuwait’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, along with the country’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and several other dignitaries.
Notably, the Indian diaspora in Kuwait expressed a wave of excitement and enthusiasm ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the community event ‘Hala Modi’ at Shaikh Saad Al Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex.
