Indian PM reached Kuwait after 43 years
Addressing the Indian community at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex in Kuwait City, PM Modi said, I reached Kuwait just 2-2.5 hours ago and from the moment I stepped here, I felt an extraordinary intimacy and warmth everywhere. It is happening. PM Modi said, today personally, this moment is very special for me. After more than four decades, an Indian Prime Minister has visited Kuwait. It takes four hours for all of you to come to India, but it took four decades for the Prime Minister.
PM Modi met the Arabic translator and publisher of Ramayana-Mahabharata
Before the visit, PM Modi said, we deeply value historical relations with Kuwait. We are not only strong trade and energy partners, but we also have a common interest in peace, security, stability and prosperity in the West Asia region. On reaching Kuwait City, the Prime Minister first met Abdullah Baron, who translated Ramayana and Mahabharata into Arabic, and Abdullah Latif Alnesef, who published them. During the meeting, the Prime Minister also congratulated both of them for this wonderful work. Earlier, PM Modi had praised his work in the Mann Ki Baat program.
21 percent are Indians in Kuwait’s population
According to data released by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait, Indians constitute 21% of Kuwait’s total population and 30% of its total workforce. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, there were 1028274 Indians here as of 2023. Most of them come from the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Punjabi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu.
Kuwait-India bilateral trade worth $10.47 billion
Kuwait is an important partner of India, being the sixth largest supplier of crude oil. It meets 3 percent of India’s energy needs. Bilateral trade between the two countries to reach $10.47 billion in 2023-24. It is worth noting that Indian exports are increasing by 34.7 percent year-on-year. On the other hand, more than $10 billion has been invested in India by Kuwait’s sovereign wealth fund, Kuwait Investment Authority, strengthening financial ties between the countries.
That’s why it took 4 decades for the Indian PM to reach Kuwait
Indian foreign policy has historically given priority to its immediate neighbors in South Asia (e.g., Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) and major powers such as the United States, Russia, and China. In such a situation, during the Cold War, India was inclined towards the Soviet Union due to its non-aligned policy and strategic reasons. Whereas Kuwait remained inclined towards the West, especially America. In such a situation, the former Prime Ministers of India did not pay any attention to the Kuwait visit. Earlier, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had visited Kuwait in 1981.
Modi’s main events in Kuwait
—Will attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup
—Visit to a labor camp of the Indian community
—Meeting with Kuwait’s top leadership, Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
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