Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, in Kuwait on Saturday (December 21, 2024).
| Photo Credit: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (December 21, 2024) said the diaspora has filled Kuwait’s canvas with the colours of Indian skills and assured that India has the manpower, skills and technology needed by a ‘New Kuwait’.
PM Modi, who is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was addressing a gathering of the Indian community here. His visit to Kuwait is the first for any Indian Prime Minister to this Gulf nation in 43 years.
In an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), PM Narendra Modi said that India and Kuwait share a deep and historic bond, asserting that the two nations are poised to transform their traditional buyer-seller relationship into a strategic partnership by exploring opportunities across the entire oil and gas value chain.
With Kuwait standing as India’s sixth largest crude supplier and fourth largest LPG supplier, PM Modi said, “the scope for further collaboration is immense as his country emerges as the third biggest global energy, oil and LPG consumer. Kuwait holds around 6.5% of global oil reserves,” he said.
PM Modi said that the petrochemical sector offers another promising avenue for collaboration as India’s rapidly growing petrochemical industry is set to become $300 billion by 2025.
The energy partnership between the two countries is not only a pillar of economic relationship but also a driver for diversified and sustainable growth, setting a path towards a future of shared prosperity, he said.
PM Modi described the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as an organisation of six Middle East countries, including Kuwait, having vital significance for India.
India’s relationship with the Gulf is rooted in historical, cultural and trade linkages, with the GCC region accounting for around one-sixth of India’s total trade and hosting around one-third of the Indian diaspora, he said. “Around nine million Indians residing in the region are contributing positively to its economic growth,” he added.
He also expressed happiness with ‘Made in India’ products, particularly in automobile, electrical and mechanical machinery and telecom sector, making inroads in Kuwait.
He said India today is manufacturing world-class products at a most affordable cost, stressing that diversification to non-oil trade is key to achieving greater bilateral trade.
PM Modi added that there is considerable potential to expand bilateral cooperation in the pharmaceutical, health, technology, digital, innovation and textile sectors.
PM Modi attends opening ceremony of Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait
On Saturday (December 22, 2024), the Prime Minister attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup as the chief guest at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait. He joined the Emir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait in witnessing the grand opening ceremony.
“The event also provided an opportunity for an informal interaction of the prime minister with the leadership of Kuwait,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.
Kuwait is hosting the biennial Arabian Gulf Cup with participation from eight countries, including GCC nations, Iraq, and Yemen. Kuwait was scheduled to play Oman in the opening game of the eight-team tournament.
The tournament is one of the most prominent sporting events in the region. Kuwait has won the tournament maximum times among the participating countries.
‘Restoration of peace in Gaza and Ukraine’
In the interview with KUNA, PM Modi voiced willingness to help efforts that could lead to an early restoration of peace in Gaza and Ukraine, asserting solutions to such conflicts cannot be found on the battlefield. He emphasised the importance of sincere and practical engagement between the stakeholders for bridging differences and achieving negotiated settlements.
He also reiterated India’s support for a negotiated two-state solution towards the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine within secure and recognised borders, according to the interview.
Published – December 21, 2024 11:30 pm IST
