Prime Minister's visit to Kuwait: 'Hala Modi' diaspora mega-event will welcome 5,000 participants and bilateral relations will be greatly boosted

Last update:December 20, 2024, 7:10 p.m. IST

Prime Minister Modi will review with Kuwait's leaders the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including areas such as politics, trade, investments, energy, culture and people-to-people ties, as well as measures that both sides must take to strengthen further. them during the two-day visit of…Learn more

The Hala Modi event will take place at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Stadium in Kuwait. Image/News18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a two-day visit to Kuwait from Saturday in what will be the first trip to the Gulf country by an Indian prime minister in 43 years. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the visit would provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted ties between India and Kuwait. The stage is also set for the mega Hala Modi diaspora event, with around 5,000 people expected.

Prime Minister Modi is making the visit at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the ministry said.

Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted the strong bilateral ties, hailing the excellent political relations “between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi would receive a ceremonial guard of honor at the Bayan Palace, followed by meetings with the Kuwaiti leaders, he said.

During the discussions, Prime Minister Modi will review with Kuwaiti leaders the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including areas such as politics, trade, investments, energy, culture and people-to-people ties, as well as the measures that both parties must take. to improve them further, Chatterjee said. The crown prince will host a banquet in honor of the prime minister, he added.

The visit, he said, will not only consolidate the partnership in existing areas, but also unveil new avenues of future cooperation, strengthen shared values ​​and build a stronger and more dynamic partnership for the future. This is also expected to strengthen ties between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council, he added.

Highlighting Prime Minister Modi's visit to a labor camp in Kuwait, Chatterjee said: The Indian government attaches considerable importance to the welfare of all workers who are abroad. We have a community of around a million people in Kuwait. The idea of ​​the labor camp visit is to express the importance that the Indian government attaches to our workers who are working in a foreign country.

Regarding the Kafala system, there is a mechanism called consular dialogue, he said. We have a mechanism for dialogue on work and labor. Under this, all concerns are reported. The Kuwaiti side is trying to resolve all difficulties,” Chatterjee added.

The Kafala system is a set of laws and policies that delegate responsibility for migrant workers to employers, including controlling their ability to enter, reside, work and, in some cases, leave the host country.

Binoy Sebastian, a member of the Hala Modi event organizing committee, also spoke to CNN-News18 from Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Stadium in Kuwait.

We are very excited because the last visit took place when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. This visit is important as Kuwait chairs the GCC,” he said. We had to take leave from the offices for preparations. We are delighted to meet Modi ji. This event will also see many cultural events. PM Modi curates a place in our hearts.”

India and Kuwait share a historic and dynamic relationship spanning decades, rooted in common history, strong trade, vibrant cultural ties and mutual support in difficult times. This year marks a historic milestone, as the first state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in 43 years highlights the growing importance of this partnership.

Historical links

India and Kuwait enjoy traditionally friendly relations, with ties dating back to pre-oil Kuwait, when maritime trade with India was the backbone of its economy.

Kuwait's economy revolved around its fine port and maritime activities, which included shipbuilding, pearl diving, fishing, and voyages to India on wooden dhows carrying dates, Arabian horses, and pearls traded for wood, cereals, clothing and spices.

The Indian rupee remained legal in Kuwait until 1961, a symbol of enduring economic and cultural ties.

Political relations

Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1961, with India initially represented by a trade commissioner. Over the years, several high-level visits have taken place between the two countries, including those of Indian leaders such as Vice President Dr Zakir Husain (1965), Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (1981) and Vice President Hamid Ansari (2009). Kuwait's VVIP visits to India were those of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah (1964), Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1980) and again in 1983 (for the MNA summit). ), Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (2006) and Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (2013). Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabar Al Sabah came to India on a private visit in July 2017. The last high-level visit of both sides was that of the Prime Minister of Kuwait to India in 2013.

Recent high-level meetings include Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince of Kuwait on the sidelines of the UNGA in September 2024. In 2024, visits by India's foreign ministers to Kuwait include that of Dr S Jaishankar on August 18, 2024. Similarly, visits by Kuwait's foreign ministers to India include those of Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Affairs on December 3 and 4, 2024. He also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this visit and invited Kuwaiti leaders to visit there. The two foreign ministers also met on the sidelines of the first meeting of the India-GCC Strategic Dialogue Committee in Riyadh on September 9, 2024.

Bilateral mechanisms

India and Kuwait have institutionalized their cooperation through mechanisms such as the Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC), established during the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister's visit to India in December 2024, and led at the Minister of Foreign Affairs level. Foreign Affairs. Seven new Joint Working Groups (JWGs) were established in the areas of trade, investment, education, technology, agriculture, security and culture. These complement the three existing GTMs in the areas of hydrocarbons, health and consular issues, bringing the total number of GTMs to 10 following the signing of the JCC.

Six rounds of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FOC) consultations took place, with the last one taking place in July 2024. Additionally, 26 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed under this framework.

Economic relations

Kuwait is among India's major trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at $10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24.

Kuwait is the 6th largest supplier of crude oil to India, meeting 3% of the country's energy needs.

Indian exports to Kuwait reached $2 billion for the first time, while Kuwait Investment Authority's investments in India exceed $10 billion.

Cultural and educational links

Cultural ties thrive, with Indian music, films and cuisine very popular in Kuwait. Events such as the Kuwait India Festival held in March 2023 and the launch of a weekly Hindi program on Kuwait National Radio in April 2024 highlight the cultural synergy.

Education is another vital area, with 26 CBSE-affiliated schools serving over 60,000 students, mostly Indians, and the establishment of a chair in Hindi at the Gulf University of Science and Technology in September 2024 means the strengthening the cultural bond between India and Kuwait.

Community and workforce cooperation

Indians form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, numbering around 1 million, which is present in various sectors, contributing immensely and serving as a living bridge” between the two countries.

Mobility in the labor sector is facilitated by bilateral agreements such as the MoU on the Recruitment of Domestic Workers (2021).

More than 200 Indian associations actively organize socio-cultural and humanitarian initiatives, further strengthening ties between the two nations.

Cooperation during crises

During the Covid-19 pandemic, India and Kuwait have supported each other.

India has sent medical teams to Kuwait, while Kuwait has supplied over 425 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen and 12,500 oxygen cylinders to India during its second wave.

Energy and scientific cooperation

Kuwait remains a reliable energy partner, ranking as India's sixth largest supplier of crude oil and fourth largest supplier of LPG. Regular meetings of the Joint Hydrocarbons Working Group ensure a stable and forward-looking energy partnership. Scientific collaboration includes agreements with the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) and Indian Agricultural Research Institutions, Department of Science and Technology, etc.

This visit marks a new chapter in the India-Kuwait partnership and promises to open up new opportunities for both countries.