India and Kuwait on Sunday elevated their ties to a strategic partnership, inked a key pact on boosting defence cooperation and vowed to quickly finalise an formidable funding treaty as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in depth talks with Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and different high leaders of the Gulf nation to broad-base the bilateral relations.
The 2 sides additionally mentioned methods to remodel the prevailing ‘buyer-seller’ relationship within the vitality sector to a complete engagement with larger collaboration in upstream and downstream sectors and agreed to discover the participation of Kuwait in India’s strategic petroleum reserve programme.
In addition to the Emir, Modi held separate talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah with a bigger give attention to imparting a brand new momentum to the general ties.
“This go to was historic and can drastically improve our bilateral relations,” Modi stated on ‘X’ on the finish of his two-day journey. In a particular gesture, the Kuwaiti prime minister got here to see off Modi on the airport.
In keeping with a joint assertion, either side directed one another’s involved authorities to “fast-track and full the continued negotiations on the bilateral funding treaty”.
To ramp up vitality cooperation, the 2 sides expressed keenness to help corporations of the 2 international locations to extend cooperation within the fields of exploration and manufacturing of oil and fuel, refining and engineering providers and petrochemical industries, it added.
A complete of 4 agreements, together with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence, have been inked. The opposite pacts will present for cooperation in areas of sports activities, tradition and photo voltaic vitality.
The MoU on defence will present for cooperation within the areas of defence industries, provide of defence tools, joint workouts, coaching, alternate of personnel and specialists and collaboration in analysis and improvement, Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Abroad Indian Affairs) within the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA), stated at a media briefing.
The defence pact will facilitate cooperation in coastal defence, maritime security and joint improvement and manufacturing of defence tools, the joint assertion famous.
Within the talks, the 2 sides unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its kinds, together with cross-border terrorism, and referred to as for disrupting of terrorism financing networks and secure havens, it stated.
Either side additionally agreed to boost counter-terror cooperation, data and intelligence sharing and alternate greatest practices and applied sciences.
Of their delegation-level talks, the 2 prime ministers mentioned a roadmap to strengthen the strategic partnership in areas of commerce, funding, vitality, defence, safety, well being, schooling, know-how, cultural and people-to-people ties, in accordance with the MEA.
In a publish on ‘X’, Modi described his talks with the Kuwaiti counterpart as “fruitful”.
“Our talks lined the complete vary of India-Kuwait relations, together with commerce, commerce, people-to-people ties and extra. Key MoUs and Agreements have been additionally exchanged, which is able to add energy to bilateral relations,” he stated.
The Indian prime minister additionally invited a delegation comprising the Kuwaiti Funding Authority and different stakeholders to go to India to have a look at new alternatives within the fields of vitality, defence, medical gadgets, pharma and meals parks, amongst others.
Within the conferences, the Indian facet additionally confirmed eager curiosity in intensifying its cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by Kuwait’s presidency of the influential grouping.
Of their discussions, Modi and the Emir largely deliberated on boosting ties in areas of knowledge know-how, prescription drugs, fintech, infrastructure and safety.
Modi thanked the Emir for making certain the well-being of over a million Indians in Kuwait, whereas the Kuwaiti chief expressed appreciation for the contribution of the neighborhood within the improvement journey of the Gulf nation.
“Wonderful assembly with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. We mentioned cooperation in key sectors like prescription drugs, IT, FinTech, Infrastructure and safety,” Modi stated in one other publish on ‘X’.
“Consistent with the shut ties between our nations, we now have elevated our partnership to a strategic one and I’m optimistic that our friendship will flourish much more within the occasions to return,” he added.
Chatterjee stated the Indian facet is assured that “this historic go to of the prime minister will open up a brand new chapter in relations between India and Kuwait.”
Either side have been capable of determine a number of essential areas of cooperation and the 2 sides will likely be working to fulfil them, he stated.
Within the assembly with Crown Prince Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Modi conveyed that India attaches utmost significance to its bilateral relations with Kuwait.
“The discussions lined methods to deepen financial and cultural linkages between our nations. We’re extraordinarily optimistic concerning the India-Kuwait Strategic Partnership scaling new heights of success within the occasions to return,” Modi stated.
The MEA stated the 2 leaders additionally emphasised shut coordination between either side within the UN and different multilateral fora.
“The prime minister expressed confidence that India-GCC relations will likely be additional strengthened beneath the Presidency of Kuwait,” it stated.
The Crown Prince hosted a banquet in honour of Modi.
Of their delegation-level talks, the 2 prime ministers welcomed the current signing of the Joint Fee for Cooperation (JCC).
Beneath the JCC, new joint working teams within the areas of commerce, funding, schooling, know-how, agriculture, safety and tradition have been arrange along with the prevailing JWGs on well being, manpower and hydrocarbons.
The MoUs included one on a cultural alternate programme and one other on an ‘govt programme on cooperation within the area of sports activities. The fourth one is a framework settlement on Kuwait becoming a member of the Worldwide Photo voltaic Alliance.
Earlier within the day, Modi was given a ceremonial welcome on the Bayan Palace and was obtained by the Kuwaiti PM.
Exterior Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated the talks between the prime minister and the Emir targeted on exploring methods to take India-Kuwait ties to “new heights”.
Of their discussions, Modi and the Kuwaiti Emir recalled the sturdy historic and pleasant ties between the 2 international locations and reaffirmed their full dedication to additional increasing and deepening bilateral cooperation.
The MEA stated Modi appreciated the brand new initiatives being undertaken by Kuwait to satisfy its ‘Imaginative and prescient 2035’ and congratulated the Emir for efficiently holding the summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) earlier this month.
The GCC is an influential grouping comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The whole quantity of India’s commerce with GCC international locations stood at USD 184.46 billion within the monetary yr 2022-23.
Modi additionally expressed his gratitude for inviting him on Saturday as a ‘Visitor of Honour’ on the opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup.
The Emir reciprocated Modi’s sentiments and expressed appreciation for India’s function as a valued accomplice in Kuwait and the Gulf area, the MEA stated in a press release.
It stated the Kuwaiti chief regarded ahead to the larger function and contribution of India in the direction of the realisation of Kuwait’s ‘Imaginative and prescient 2035’.
Modi invited the Emir, the Crown Prince and the Kuwaiti PM to go to India.
The Gulf nation is amongst India’s high buying and selling companions, with bilateral commerce valued at USD 10.47 billion within the monetary yr 2023-24.
Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude provider, assembly three per cent of the nation’s vitality wants.
Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the primary time, whereas investments by the Kuwait Funding Authority in India exceeded USD 10 billion.
The final Indian prime minister to go to Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981. The Indian neighborhood is the biggest expatriate neighborhood in Kuwait.
