PM Modi met Arabic translators of epics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kuwait on Saturday, December 21, 2024, for a two-day visit. During his stay, he will engage in discussions with the Kuwaiti leadership and connect with the Indian diaspora.
PM Modi is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This represents the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years. Prime Minister Modi’s trip to Kuwait follows two weeks after the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and amidst the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza. During his visit, he will engage in talks with Kuwait’s leadership and connect with the Indian community.
In his departure statement, he expressed that discussions with Kuwait’s top leadership would provide an opportunity to outline a roadmap for a forward-looking partnership between India and Kuwait.
He emphasized the deep historical ties with Kuwait, cultivated over generations. He highlighted that the two nations are not only strong partners in trade and energy but also share common interests in promoting peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the West Asia region.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his anticipation for meetings with Kuwait’s Emir, Crown Prince, and Prime Minister. Additionally, he will participate in the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait.
The most recent Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981. India is one of Kuwait’s top trading partners, and during his visit, Prime Minister Modi will also meet with the vibrant Indian diaspora, the largest expatriate community in the country. Indians make up 21% of Kuwait’s total population (about 1 million) and 30% of its workforce (approximately 900,000). Indian workers are the largest group in both the private and domestic sectors, according to the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
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Kuwait is one of India’s key trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching $10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. It is also India’s sixth-largest supplier of crude oil, providing 3% of the country’s energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait have hit a record $2 billion, and investments from the Kuwait Investment Authority in India have surpassed $10 billion. India and Kuwait have maintained long-standing friendly relations, with historical ties dating back to the pre-oil era when maritime trade with India was central to Kuwait’s economy.
