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Modi, who became the first prime minister of India to visit the Gulf nation in 43 years, said that India and Kuwait are poised to transform their traditional buyer-seller relationship into a strategic partnership
PM Modi addressing the ‘Hala Modi’ event in Kuwait. (Photo: ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day historic visit to Kuwait said India and Kuwait share multifaceted ties rooted in history, culture, and mutual respect.
The prime minister, on Sunday, took X sharing highlights from his interview with the Kuwait News Agency and wrote, “India and Kuwait share multifaceted ties rooted in history, culture and mutual respect. Our strong relations extend across energy, trade and investments. We also have a vibrant Indian diaspora strengthening the friendship further. I highlighted this, and a wide range of other issues in this interview with KUNA.”
India and Kuwait share multifaceted ties rooted in history, culture and mutual respect.Our strong relations extend across energy, trade and investments. We also have a vibrant Indian diaspora strengthening the friendship further.
I highlighted this, and a wide range of other… https://t.co/SfzyLq1lD6
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 22, 2024
‘India, Kuwait Poised To Evolve Ties into Strategic Partnership’
Modi, who became the first prime minister of India to visit the Gulf nation in 43 years, said that India and Kuwait share a deep and historic bond, asserting that the two nations are poised to transform their traditional buyer-seller relationship into a strategic partnership by exploring opportunities across the entire oil and gas value chain.
During his interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Modi voiced willingness to help efforts that could lead to an early restoration of peace in Gaza and Ukraine, asserting solutions to such conflicts cannot be found in the battlefield.
He emphasised the importance of sincere and practical engagement between the stakeholders for bridging differences and achieving negotiated settlements.
Modi also reiterated India’s support for a negotiated two-state solution towards the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine within secure and recognised borders, according to the interview.
Scope For Collaboration In Energy Sector
With Kuwait standing as India’s sixth largest crude supplier and fourth largest LPG supplier, Modi said the scope for further collaboration is immense as his country emerges as the third biggest global energy, oil and LPG consumer. Kuwait holds around 6.5 per cent of global oil reserves, he said.
Modi said that the petrochemical sector offers another promising avenue for collaboration as India’s rapidly growing petrochemical industry is set to become USD 300 billion by 2025.
The energy partnership between the two countries is not only a pillar of economic relationship but also a driver for diversified and sustainable growth, setting a path towards a future of shared prosperity, he said.
In the interview, he expressed happiness with ‘Made in India’ products, particularly in automobile, electrical and mechanical machinery and telecom sector, making inroads in Kuwait.
Modi added that there is a considerable potential to expand bilateral cooperation in the pharmaceutical, health, technology, digital, innovation and textile sectors.
The two countries have traded with each other since time immemorial, Modi said.
PM Hails Indian Diaspora, Meets Kuwait Emir
Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the diaspora’s contribution to global growth and said India has the potential to become the “skill capital of the world.” He was addressing a large gathering of the Indian community at an event called ‘Hala Modi’ at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex in the city on the first day of his two-day visit.
Earlier after arrival, Modi met with a 101-year-old former Indian Foreign Service officer, two Kuwaiti nationals who have translated and published iconic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata in Arabic, and visited a labour camp with a workforce of around 1,500 Indian nationals.
He also attended the inauguration of the Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament. During the event, he met the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as both leaders watched the biennial football tournament.
The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
“Every year, hundreds of Indians come to Kuwait. You have added an Indian touch to Kuwaiti society. You have filled the canvas of Kuwait with the colours of Indian skills. You have mixed the essence of India’s talent, technology, and tradition in Kuwait,” Modi said.
