India and Kuwait on Sunday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for defence corporation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Gulf country. The MoU was signed after Modi held extensive talks with Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The MoU will institutionalize bilateral cooperation in the area of defence, said an official statement. The key areas of cooperation include training, exchange of personnel and experts, joint exercises, cooperation in defence industry, supply of defence equipment, and collaboration in research and development, among others.
In another major outcome of Modi’s visit, both India and Kuwait agreed to hold a Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) from 2025 to 2029.
شكرًا للكويت! كانت هذه الزيارة تاريخية وستعزز بشكل كبير علاقاتنا الثنائية. أشكر حكومة وشعب الكويت على حفاوة الاستقبال. كما أشكر رئيس وزراء الكويت على اللفتة الخاصة المتمثلة في القدوم إلى المطار لتوديعنا. pic.twitter.com/0XOKh5M2pE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 22, 2024
“The CEP will facilitate greater cultural exchanges in art, music, dance, literature and theatre, cooperation in preservation of cultural heritage, research and development in the area of culture and organizing of festivals,” the statement said.
Both Modi and Al-Sabah discussed a roadmap to strengthen the strategic partnership in areas including political, trade, investment, energy, defence, security, health, education, technology, cultural, and people-to-people ties.
They also emphasized on deepening economic cooperation between the two countries. The leaders also discussed cooperation in traditional medicine and agricultural research.
أجريت مناقشات مثمرة مع سمو الشيخ أحمد عبد الله الأحمد الصباح، رئيس وزراء الكويت. تناولت محادثاتنا كامل نطاق العلاقات بين الهند والكويت، بما في ذلك التجارة والعلاقات بين الشعبين والمزيد. كما تم تبادل مذكرات التفاهم والاتفاقيات المهمة، مما سيعزز العلاقات الثنائية. pic.twitter.com/7Wt1Cha7Hu
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 22, 2024
Both New Delhi and Kuwait will hold an executive programme for cooperation in the field of sports. The programme will promote exchange of visits of sports leaders for experience sharing, participation in programs and projects in the field of sports, exchange of expertise in sports medicine, sports management, sports media, sports science, among others.
Modi also discussed with Kuwait leaders the Gulf country’s membership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) which covers the deployment of solar energy and addresses key common challenges to the scaling up of use of solar energy to help member countries develop low-carbon growth trajectories.
The prime minister invited a delegation comprising the Kuwaiti Investment Authority and other stakeholders to visit India to look at new opportunities in the fields of energy, defence, medical devices, pharma, food parks, among others.
On Sunday evening, Modi left for home after wrapping up his two-day "successful" visit.
"Thank you Kuwait! This visit was historic and will greatly enhance our bilateral relations. I thank the Government and people of Kuwait for their warmth. I also thank the PM of Kuwait for the special gesture of coming to the airport for the see-off," Modi said in a post on X.
