Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to Kuwait on the weekend. This will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the West Asian nation in 43 years.
He will be in Kuwait from December 21 to 22, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, on Wednesday (December 18). Kuwait was the only Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country that Modi had not visited until now.
Let’s take a closer look.
What’s the agenda?
PM Modi is travelling to the West Asian country at the invitation of Kuwait’s Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
During the two-day visit, he will hold discussions with the country’s leadership. Modi will also interact with the Indian community in Kuwait.
As per a Financial Express report, the topics of energy security, expanding economic collaboration, and security cooperation could come up during the talks between PM Modi and Kuwait’s leaders.
“The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted ties between India and Kuwait,” the MEA said in its statement.
India-Kuwait ties
India and Kuwait have traditionally enjoyed “close and friendly” ties, as per the MEA.
New Delhi established diplomatic relations with Kuwait in 1961.
The Gulf country is one of India’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade touching $10.47 billion in FY 2023-24. India’s exports to Kuwait increased 34 per cent from $1.56 billion to $2.1 billion, between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/pm-narendra-modi-kuwait-visit-west-asia-13846029.html.
