KNOW WHY PM MODI's AUSTRIAN VISIT IS SIGNIFICANT

 

BRIDGING THE GULF: MODI's VISIT STRENGTHENS INDIA-KUWAIT RELATIONS

     Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour at the Bayan Palace on Sunday. Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah is also present. Courtesy: ANI  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kuwait on 21 December on a two-day historic visit, where he was given a grand ceremonial welcome. The next day, he was given a guard of honor at Bayan Palace, where Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was also present. PM Modi made this visit at the invitation of Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. 

The Indians living in Kuwait welcomed him with the tricolor flag and shouted 'Modi-Modi' slogans in a tremendous manner. This is the first visit of any Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait after 43 years. The last Prime Minister to visit Kuwait in the past was Indira Gandhi who visited Kuwait in 1981. In 2009, the then Vice President of India Hamid Ansari visited Kuwait. It was the most important visit to Kuwait by an Indian politician after Indira Gandhi's visit.

  

Another milestone in India's diplomatic outreach to the Gulf region

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait is yet another milestone in India’s diplomatic outreach to the Gulf region, which New Delhi considers part of its extended neighborhood.

Under Modi's leadership, the Gulf has become a foreign and security policy priority and an integral part of India's 'extended neighborhood', in which India's interests and influence are growing.

The Arab countries of the Middle East are emerging as the most important strategic and diplomatic priority in Indian foreign policy. This visit to Kuwait will be Narendra Modi's fourteenth visit to Arab countries. With the visit to Kuwait, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited almost all the important Arab countries.

Kuwait's top leaders have also been visiting India. In 2013, Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah visited India. Earlier in 2006, Kuwait's then Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah had visited India.

Diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait were established in 1961. Initially, India appointed a Trade Commissioner in Kuwait. There have been high-level visits of politicians between India and Kuwait. In 1965, the then Vice President Zakir Hussain visited Kuwait.

                         Courtesy: PIB

Energy is an important pillar of the bilateral partnership between the two countries. Last year, trade between the two countries crossed US$10 billion. India-Kuwait consistently ranks among the top 10 trading partners in the energy sector. There is immense potential for further cooperation,

The relations between India and the Middle Eastern countries are based on energy security, cooperation, and trade. Kuwait is India's sixth-largest crude oil supplier and fourth-largest LPG supplier. Last year, trade between the two countries crossed US$10 billion.

Kuwait's petrochemical sector offers another promising opportunity for cooperation, as India's fast-growing petrochemical industry is expected to be worth US$ 300 billion by 2025. There is immense potential for further cooperation. India-Kuwait consistently ranks among the top 10 trading partners in the energy sector.

Several Indian companies are executing infrastructure projects in Kuwait and providing services in several sectors. Kuwait Investment Authority has made substantial investments in India and now there is growing interest in investing in India. Both countries have started understanding each other's interests well bilaterally and multilaterally.

Apart from the above, PM Modi highlighted the need for diversification into non-oil trade, including the fields of pharmaceuticals, health, technology, digital innovation, and textiles.

Kuwait's relations with India have always been good

Kuwait's relations with India have always been good. Let us tell you that before the Prime Minister's visit, the foreign ministers of both countries have prepared the ground for this important visit of PM Modi by visiting each other's country.

Even though visits by heads of state and government between India and Kuwait have been limited, there have been strong business and cultural ties between the two countries.

Even before oil was discovered in Kuwait, India, and Kuwait used to trade through sea routes. Historically, the relations between the two countries have been friendly. Indian Rupee was used in Kuwait till 1961.

India and Kuwait have deep and historical ties and relations between the two countries have always been warm and friendly. Both countries have been trading with each other since time immemorial.

India's strengthening relations with the Middle East

A big reason behind India's strengthening relations with the Middle East is the large Indian population living in the countries of this region. About one million Indians live in Kuwait, while there are about 35 lakh Indians in the United Arab Emirates and about 26 lakh Indians in Saudi Arabia.

Indians living in Kuwait send about 4.7 billion dollars to India every year. This amount is 6.7 percent of the money sent to India by Indians living abroad. PM Modi's visit to Kuwait and meeting with Indian expatriates there served to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries.

International affairs expert Professor Swasti Rao says, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several steps to increase India's identity at the global level. The main reason for paying special attention to the Middle East is business relations. Modi has extended his hand not only to neighboring countries but also to distant neighbors."

 

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is very important for India. GCC is an organization of six Middle Eastern countries including Kuwait. India's relations with the Gulf countries are based on historical, cultural, and trade relations.

The GCC region accounts for about one-sixth of India's total trade and about one-third of the Indian diaspora lives here. About 90 lakh Indians living in this region (GCC) are contributing positively to its economic growth. The Indian community serves as a living bridge between the two countries. ‘Made in India’ products are making their place in Kuwait.

The GCC countries see India as an important partner in tackling terrorism in their respective regions; defense cooperation agreements have been signed with the UAE, Oman, and Qatar. PM Modi has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by visiting Kuwait.

Interaction with Indian workers in the Gulf

During his visit to Kuwait PM Modi visited the Gulf Spic Labour Camp in Kuwait, where he interacted with Indian workers and praised their contribution to global development. PM Modi spoke about the aspirations of Indian workers and linked them to his vision of "Developed India 2047".

Interacting with Indian laborers, the Prime Minister said, "I talk about 'Developed India 2047' because the labor brothers of my country who have come so far to work also think how an international airport can be built in their village. This aspiration is the strength of my country."

PM Modi also shared his motivation. He said, “Do you work hard for your family or not? I also work for my family. There are 140 crore people in my family, so I have to work a little more.”

Cultural and historical ties between the two countries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the cultural and historical ties between the two countries and the contribution of Indian immigrants as India's soft power. He added that Indian civilization and heritage are the foundation of our soft power. This power has grown rapidly in the last decade. The cinema, food, and tourism sectors have a big role in this.

Indian films are produced in abundance in Kuwait and the Gulf countries. This is an example of cultural relations between the two countries. The people of Kuwait also like Indian cinema. Three weekly shows on Indian films and actors are run here.

There are many similarities in the food and cooking of India and Kuwait. Due to the long contact of the two countries for centuries, the language and vocabulary are also similar. India's diversity, peace, and tolerance match the multi-cultural social values ​​of Kuwait.

Indians have contributed significantly to the development of Kuwait as doctors, businessmen, construction workers, engineers, nurses, and other professionals. As relations between India and Kuwait move towards a strategic partnership, the role of the Indian community here will increase. The Prime Minister of India is confident that the top leadership of Kuwait will recognize and support this role of the Indian community.

Addressing a large gathering of the Indian community at an event titled 'Hala Modi' at the city's Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex, Modi lauded the contribution of the diaspora to global development and said India has the potential to become the "skill capital of the world". He has shown an example to the people of the whole world by eating the bread of laborers.

                         Courtesy: India Today

Prime Minister met Abdullah Al Baroun and Abdul Lateef Al Nasef who translated and edited ancient epics of India Ramayana and Mahabharata into Arabic. While Abdullah translated the epics, Abdul Lateef is the editor and publisher. While it took Abdullah almost two years to translate the epics, Abdul completed the editing within eight months. PM Modi obliged them with his autograph on the books.

 

Kuwait's highest honour 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Kuwait's highest honor 'The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer' today. This was the 20th international honor given to PM Modi by a country. The 'Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer' is the knighthood order of Kuwait. It is awarded to heads of state, foreign sovereigns, and members of foreign royal families as a sign of friendship. It has been previously awarded to leaders such as Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, and George Bush. 

Prime Minister Modi has tried to connect with Indians living abroad and a craze for him has also increased among the NRIs. However, this journey was not just about transactions; it was about shaping a shared future. The two countries signed agreements in key areas such as digital innovation, healthcare, and sustainable development. These agreements reflect a strategic vision that goes beyond immediate gains to achieve the goal of long-term regional stability and prosperity.

According to Dr. Fazzur Rahman, Senior Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, "Modi has changed Indian foreign policy according to the changing nature of global politics and has taken forward relations with the countries of the Middle East with a new energy. Prime Minister Modi has proved that he is different from the Indian leaders before him."

 

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