Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a significant two-day visit to Kuwait, marking the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in over four decades. This visit, which begins on Saturday, is poised to open a new chapter in India-Kuwait relations, with the potential to expand cooperation in trade, energy, culture, and more.
The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was the late Indira Gandhi in 1981, and prior to that, Vice President Hamid Ansari traveled there in 2009. Modi’s visit, at the invitation of the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, will include high-level talks with key Kuwaiti leadership, including the Amir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister. These discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties across various sectors, including trade, investment, and people-to-people relations.
A key part of PM Modi’s itinerary includes visiting a labor camp that houses Indian blue-collar workers, addressing a community event, and attending the opening of the Gulf Cup football tournament. The ‘Hala Modi’ event, a major community gathering, will be held at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex, where Modi will engage with the Indian diaspora, which constitutes the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, numbering over one million people.
The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that Modi’s visit will not only build on existing partnerships but will also explore new pathways for future cooperation. Discussions are reportedly underway with Kuwait on a bilateral investment treaty and a defense cooperation agreement, further enhancing the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Additionally, the visit is expected to strengthen India’s ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which Kuwait currently chairs. The GCC, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, plays a crucial role in regional geopolitics and trade. India’s trade with GCC countries reached $184.46 billion in the 2022-2023 financial year, underscoring the importance of this relationship.
India’s trade with Kuwait alone reached $10.47 billion in the 2023-2024 period, with a notable 34.7% growth in Indian exports. Kuwait is also a significant energy partner, being India’s sixth-largest crude supplier, meeting 3% of its energy needs. Furthermore, investments from the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed $10 billion, cementing the economic ties between the two countries.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes at a time of growing India-Kuwait relations, promising to bring about enhanced collaboration and mutual benefits in the years ahead.
