Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Kuwait from Saturday, at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. It will be the first visit to the Gulf nation by an Indian prime minister in 43 years.
The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
In a departure statement, PM Modi said his talks with top Kuwaiti leadership would be a chance to chalk out a roadmap for a partnership between the two countries.
🎥 As PM @narendramodi is enroute to Kuwait, take a look at the various facets of 🇮🇳-🇰🇼 relationship. pic.twitter.com/g3ZkNlMA1z
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 21, 2024
His visit comes in the backdrop of the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria and the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
What is on PM Modi's itinerary on his Kuwait visit?
While in Kuwait, Modi will attend the opening ceremony of the Gulf Cup football tournament. "I express my gratitude to the leadership of Kuwait for the special gesture of inviting me to the inauguration ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup, a premier sporting event in the Gulf region," the prime minister said in the departure statement.
He will meet the Emir, the Crown Prince and the prime minister of Kuwait.
Today and tomorrow, I will be visiting Kuwait. This visit will deepen India’s historical linkages with Kuwait. I look forward to meeting His Highness the Amir, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Kuwait.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 21, 2024
This evening, I will be interacting with the Indian community and…
He will also visit an Indian labour camp, and interact with the Indian community. The Hala Modi event, to be held at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Stadium, is expected to be attended by around 5,000 people. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.
Defence and trade will be the key focus areas for both the countries, in the discussions during Modi's visit. A bilateral investment treaty and a defence cooperation pact are expected.
India among top trading partners of Kuwait
India is among the top trading partners of Kuwait, and vice versa. The bilateral trade is valued at USD 10.47 billion in 2023-24.
Kuwait, which is India's sixth largest crude supplier, meets three per cent of India's energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the first time in 2023-24 while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceeded USD 10 billion.
