Movement of rupee, trade of horses and dates… Know how the relations between India and Kuwait have been before PM Modi’s visit – pm modi kuwait visit after indira gandhi know the history and India Kuwait bilateral relations ntc

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kuwait on 21-22 December. This will be the first time after 43 years that an Indian PM is visiting Kuwait. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that the visit is expected to start a new chapter in bilateral relations between India and Kuwait. According to MEA, during this visit there will be discussions on further strengthening the partnership between the two countries in defence, trade and other areas. This invitation has been given to PM Modi by the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mashal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. During his visit, the Prime Minister will meet the top leadership of Kuwait and will also interact with the people of the Indian community living there. It is noteworthy that the Indian community is the largest expatriate group in Kuwait.

PM Modi is giving importance to the visit of Arab countries
PM Modi’s visit to Kuwait is not only special, but it also points out that in the last ten years, while on one hand PM Modi has made many important visits to other western countries, he has also given special attention to the Middle East. . He has been continuously visiting Arab countries and with this visit to Kuwait, he will be visiting an Arab country for the 14th time. If we look at his previous Arab trips, till now he has visited UAE seven times, Qatar and Saudi Arabia twice and Oman and Bahrain once each.

India is strengthening relations with the Middle East
These visits show that PM Modi is not only giving importance to the Middle East in the era of the world becoming a global village, but in this era of PM Narendra Modi’s power, India is also strengthening its relations with the Middle East. As a result, it can be seen that the Arab countries of the Middle East are emerging as the most important strategic and diplomatic priority in Indian foreign policy. This can also be gauged from the fact that during his ten-year tenure as PM, Manmohan Singh visited the Arab countries of the Middle East only three times.

Former PM Manmohan Singh had visited Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia once each. Whereas PM Modi has visited all the important Arab countries and with his visit to Kuwait, another important country is joining it.

Indira Gandhi visited Kuwait 43 years ago
In 1981, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made a historic visit to Kuwait, which was the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait. The objective of this visit was to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Kuwait. Kuwait has been a major oil supplier to India, and the energy sector is of particular importance in trade relations between the two countries. Let us tell you that diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait were established in 1961, and cooperation in the energy sector has been an important part of these relations.

India and Kuwait have old trade relations
If we examine the history of mutual cooperative relations between India and Kuwait, it comes to light that this relationship has been strong even before the existence of oil in Kuwait. Before the discovery of oil, Kuwait’s trade with India was based on dates and horses. Kuwaiti sailors made annual voyages to trade between the Gulf of Arabia and the western ports of India. However, the horse trade ended after World War II and for some time thereafter pearls and timber such as teak remained at the center of this trade relationship.

First diplomatic relations established between India and Kuwait in 1961
After the establishment of the first diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait in 1961, Yacob Abdulaziz Al-Rushid was appointed as the first Ambassador of Kuwait to India and India was the country which was the first to recognize Kuwait’s independence. Was. Kuwait supported India during the India-China war of 1962. In the 1950s and 1960s, Mumbai was the center of many Kuwaiti businesses and the Emir of Kuwait even maintained a residence on Marine Drive. However, relations between the two countries soured due to India’s pro-Iraq stance during the Iraq-Kuwait War in the 1990s.

Visits of top leaders between India and Kuwait

There have been regular high level visits between Indian and Kuwaiti leaders which have been helpful in strengthening bilateral relations. In 1965, Vice President Dr. Zakir Hussain and again in 2009, Vice President Hamid Ansari visited Kuwait. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Kuwait in 1981. At the same time, Kuwait’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah visited India in 1964.

Cooperation in Covid-19 pandemic
Joint cooperation between India and Kuwait was also seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. In May 2020, the Government of India sent a 15-member medical team and medical equipment to Kuwait. On the other hand, during the second wave of Covid in India in May 2021, Kuwait had sent emergency medical help like liquid oxygen, oxygen concentrators and ventilators to India.

Indian expatriate community in Kuwait
The Indian expatriate community in Kuwait numbers around 10 lakhs, and is the largest expatriate community. The Indian community is in Kuwait’s progressive job sectors like white collar in industrial, electronic, infrastructure and engineering fields. Indian doctors and paramedics are also working in the Health Ministry and medical field of Kuwait. However, there is also a large number of Indians living illegally in Kuwait. They are there in low budget jobs.

Economic relations and investment
Kuwait’s economy depended on maritime activities and trade before the discovery of oil. Kuwait was a major center of shipbuilding and pearl fishing and fishing were important commercial activities. The Indian rupee was legal tender in Kuwait until 1961. In 2011–12, bilateral trade between India and Kuwait was $17.56 billion, an increase of 44%. Petroleum has been the base of this business. Bilateral trade to reach $13.8 billion in 2022-23, showing a growth of 12.8% on an annual basis. Indian companies are active in Kuwait’s energy and infrastructure sectors, while Kuwaiti companies are investing in India.

Kuwait is a small, prosperous and relatively open country with a petroleum-based economy. It holds about 6% of the world’s total crude oil reserves and proven natural gas reserves. Oil income is about 94% of the state’s total income. Kuwait offers an open, competitive and prosperous market for export of consumer goods and projects. In terms of projects, it is the fourth largest market among the GCC countries (after UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar).

Major products exported from India to Kuwait during the year 2022-23: grains, organic chemicals, electrical machinery and equipment, vehicles and ceramic products.
Major products imported from Kuwait to India during the year 2022-23: Mineral fuels, organic chemicals, aircraft and their parts, plastics and iron and steel (scrap).

India is one of the largest importers of Kuwaiti oil. The energy sector is an important component of bilateral economic relations. Kuwait remains a reliable supplier of crude oil and LPG to meet India’s energy needs.
There is a system of Joint Working Group (JWG) on Hydrocarbons, which meets regularly.

History of defense cooperation
Naval cooperation is the mainstay of defense and security relations between India and Kuwait. Four Indian Naval ships visited Kuwait in 2022. In 2023, Indian Ambassador Adarsh ​​Swaika met Kuwaiti Navy Chief Brigadier General Hazza Al-Alati and discussed strengthening navy-to-navy cooperation. In August 2023, Indian Navy destroyer INS Visakhapatnam arrived at Al-Shuwaik port, adding a new chapter to the maritime cooperation between the two countries.

India and Kuwait relations at a glance

This will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait after the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981. That means an Indian Prime Minister is reaching Kuwait after 43 years.

– Earlier in the year 2009, the then Vice President of India Hamid Ansari had visited Kuwait, which was the most important visit of an Indian politician to Kuwait since Indira Gandhi’s visit.

– Relations between India and the countries of the Middle East are based on energy security, cooperation and trade.

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

– Even before oil was found in Kuwait, trade between India and Kuwait was done through sea route.

Historically, relations between the two countries have been friendly. Indian rupee was used in Kuwait till 1961.

– Diplomatic relations were established between India and Kuwait in the year 1961. Initially India had appointed 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.

– Top leaders of Kuwait have also been coming to India. In 2013, Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Jabir Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah visited India.

– Earlier in the year 2006, the then Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah had come to India.

– Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar visited Kuwait in August 2024 while Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya visited India on 3-4 December. During this visit, he invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Kuwait.

– To promote trade between the two countries, Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC) was also established during the visit of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister to India this month.