India and Kuwait are set to strengthen ties in key areas such as defence and trade during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the Gulf nation.
The visit will include discussions with the top Kuwaiti leadership, visiting an Indian labour camp, addressing the Indian community, and attending the opening ceremony of the Gulf Cup football tournament. This is the first trip by an Indian prime minister in 43 years.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that discussions are underway with Kuwait on a bilateral investment treaty and a defence cooperation pact.
Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs) in the MEA, said a few bilateral documents are expected to be firmed up during the prime minister’s visit. Chatterjee said the historic visit is expected to open a new chapter in India-Kuwait bilateral relations and boost ties between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
India is among the top trading partners of Kuwait, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude supplier, meeting 3% of the country’s energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed USD 10 billion.
India and Kuwait have traditionally enjoyed friendly relations, with links dating back to pre-oil Kuwait when maritime trade with India was the backbone of its economy. The Indian Rupee remained legal tender in Kuwait until 1961, symbolizing the enduring economic and cultural ties between the two nations. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were formally established in 1961, with India initially represented by a trade commissioner.
The last high-level visit from either side was that of the prime minister of Kuwait to India in 2013.
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