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- In the last leg of his Kuwait visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to sign an MoU to further boost bilateral relations between India and the Gulf country. Kuwait is an important trading partner of India, being the sixth largest supplier of crude oil and meeting 3 percent of India’s energy needs. Later, Prime Minister Modi is likely to meet his Kuwaiti counterpart Dr Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and issue a joint statement to the media before leaving for Delhi. He is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
- On the first day of his visit, Prime Minister Modi on Saturday attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City as the chief guest. He was also joined by the Amir, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait at the grand opening ceremony. The event also provided an opportunity for the Prime Minister to have informal interactions with Kuwait’s leadership, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.
- The Prime Minister also addressed a large gathering of the Indian community at an event titled ‘Hala Modi’ at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex, where he lauded the contribution of the Indian diaspora to global development and said that India “has become Has the ability to.” “Skill Capital of the World.”
- “The relationship between India and Kuwait is one of civilization, sea, affection, trade and commerce. India and Kuwait are located on two coasts of the Arabian Sea. It is not just diplomacy that connects us, but also the bonds of the heart,’ ‘ the Prime Minister said to loud cheers in the assembly.
- He also expressed happiness over the presence of Indians from different corners of the country in the Gulf country and called it “mini-Hindustan”. “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 colors of Indian skills. You have combined the essence of India’s talent, technology and tradition in Kuwait.” ,” Modi said.
- Modi thanked Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his gracious invitation, saying it is after 43 years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited Kuwait to strengthen and strengthen the age-old friendship. Is visiting. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
- Earlier on arrival, he met a 101-year-old former Indian Foreign Service officer, two Kuwaiti nationals who have translated and published the iconic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata in Arabic, and a labor camp with a workforce of about 1,500 Indian nationals. Visited.
- Earlier as the first event of his visit to Kuwait, Modi visited the Gulf Spike Labor Camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait with a workforce of around 1,500 Indian nationals. He interacted with various sections of Indian workers from different states of India, inquired about their well-being and even sat at a table with some of them when breakfast was served.
- Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes months after more than 45 Indians were killed in a massive fire at a building housing foreign workers in the Mangaf area of southern Kuwait in June. “The visit to the labor camp symbolizes the importance given by the Prime Minister to the welfare of Indian workers abroad,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said.
- Indians constitute 21 percent of Kuwait’s total population (1 million) and 30 percent of its workforce (about 9 lakh). According to the Indian Embassy in Kuwait, Indian workers top the private sector as well as domestic sector (DSW) workforce list.
