Omkar Dattatray
Much after visiting America ,Russia and other big countries ,Modi embarked on a historical and first visit to a Muslim country-Kuwait where Modi Modi shouts echoed the air and reverberated and the prime minister India’s visit after more than four decades is epoch making and has great bearing on the bilateral relations between India and Kuwait .There were chants of Modi Modi everywhere in Kuwait and it showed the popularity of Indian Prime Minister even in a Muslim country .Modi in fact scripted a diplomatic and bilateral history by visiting Kuwait and the visit strengthened the relations and ties between the two countries possessing two diverse cultures .Modi was recently on a two -day visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Emir Sheikh Meshal Al -Jabar. India ,Kuwait elevate ties to strategic partnership following PM Modi’s talks with top leadership .In their discussion ,the two leaders focused on boosting ties in areas of information technology ,pharmaceuticals ,fintech ,infrastructure and security .The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.Prime Minister Modi was on a two-day trip to Kuwait from Saturday -December 21 ,2024 in what was the first visit to the Gulf nation by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years .The Ministry of External Affairs -MEA ,announced the visit and said it will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the ”multifaceted ”ties between India and Kuwait .Modi said ,Kuwait ,India poised to transform relationship into strategic partnership.PM Modi highlighted Indian diaspora’s contribution to Kuwait ,emphasized potential for strategic partnership in energy and trade.PM Modi said the diaspora has filled kuwait’s canvas with the colors of Indian skills and assured that India has the manpower ,skills and technology needed by a ‘New Kuwait ‘.PM Modi who visited Kuwait on the invitation of its Emir addressed a gathering of the Indian community here. .India and Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday the last day of the visit of PM Modi to Kuwait .Both India and Kuwait condemned cross boarder terrorism as well as the terror in all forms and manifestations .Both the countries signed an agreement for promoting defense and security cooperation .During his address to the Indian diaspora in Kuwait ,Mr Narendra Modi ,PM articulated a vision for India as a future hub of global development and a global growth engine .Speaking at the ”Hala Modi” event at the Sheikh Saad Al -Abdullah indoor sports complex ,he highlighted India’s rapid advancements in technology ,infrastructure ,and sustainability ,asserting that the nation is now fifth -largest economy globally and a leader in fintech with the third-largest startup ecosystem .He emphasized the extensive progress made in telecommunications ,noting that the length of optical fibre laid in the past decade equates to eight times the distance between the Moon and Earth.He underscored the potential for collaboration between Indian startups and Kuwait in sectors such as fintech ,healthcare, smart cities ,and green technology ,positioning India as a prospective skill capital able to meet global demands .He also acknowledged vital role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening India-Kuwait relations ,expressing gratitude to Mr.Sheikh Meshal Al -Ahmad Al Jabar Al -Sabah ,the Amir of Kuwait ,for the invasion that marked the first visit of an Indian Prime minister to Kuwait in over four decades .He praised the contributions the Indian community ,which have garnered recognition from both the Kuwait government and society .The prime minister discussed shared goals between India and Kuwait ,emphasizing their mutual focus on innovation and economic development .He invited the diaspora to participate in upcoming events in India ,including the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas ,in January 2025 ,reinforcing the importance of their engagement in the journey towards a developed India and the strengthening of cultural ties between the two nations .Kuwait bestowed highest honor ,’The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ to PM Modi.This is the 20th international honor given to Mr .Modi by Kuwait government .The Kuwait government on Sunday December 22,2024 bestowed its highest honor ,”The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer ”to prime minister Narendra Modi.The Order is awarded to Heads of state and foreign sovereigns and to members of foreign royal families in sign of friendship .It has been previously awarded to foreign leaders like Bill Clinton ,Prince Charles and George Bush .India ,Kuwait elevate ties to strategic partnership following PM Modi’s talks with top leadership .In their discussions ,the two leaders focused on boosting ties in areas of information technology ,pharmaceuticals ,fintech ,infrastructure and security .India and Kuwait elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership after PM Modi held extensive talks with Kuwait Emir Sheikh Mehhal Al-Ahmad Al -Jaber Al-Sabah.At the invitation of his highness the Amir of state of Kuwait ,Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al -Jabar Al -Sabah ,Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi paid an official visit To Kuwait on 21-22 December 2024.This was his first visit to Kuwait .Prime Minister Modi attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait on 21st December 2024 as the ‘Gust of Honor’ of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait .His Highness the Amir of the state of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al -Ahmad Al-Jabar Al-Sabah and his Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al-Sabha Al -Hamad Al-Mubara Al-sabah ,Crown Prince of the state of Kuwait received PM Shri Narendra Modi at Bayan Palace on 22 December 2024 and was accorded a ceremonial welcome .Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep appreciation to His Highness the Amir of the state the of Kuwait for conferring on him highest award of the state of Kuwait ”The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer.” The leaders exchanged views on bilateral ,global ,regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest .Given the traditional ,close and friendly bilateral relations and desire to deepen cooperation in all fields ,the two leaders agreed to elevate relations between India and Kuwait to a ”Strategic Partnership ‘.The leaders stressed that it is in line with the common interests of the two nations and for mutual benefit of the two peoples .Establishment of a strategic partnership between both countries will further broad base and deepen our long -standing historical ties .Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with the Amir of the Kuwait State -the Prime Minister of Kuwait .In the light of newly established v strategic partnership ,the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations through comprehensive and structured cooperation in key areas including political ,trade ,investment ,defense ,security ,energy ,culture ,education ,technology and people -to-people ties. The two sides recalled the centuries -old historical ties rooted in shared history and cultural affinities .They noted with satisfaction the regular interactions at various levels which have helped in generating and sustaining the momentum in the multifaceted bilateral cooperation .Both sides emphasized on sustaining the recent momentum in high-level exchanges through regular bilateral exchanges at Ministerial and senior -official levels .The two sides welcomed the recent establishment of a Joint Commission on Cooperation -JCC between India and Kuwait .The JCC will be an institutional mechanism to review and monitor the entire spectrum of the bilateral relations between the two countries and will be headed by the foreign ministers of both countries .To further expand our bilateral cooperation across various fields ,new Joint Working Groups -JWG’s have been set up in areas of trade ,investments, education ,and skill development ,science and technology ,security and counter -terrorism ,agriculture ,and culture ,in addition to the existing JWG’s on Health ,Manpower and Hydrocarbons .Both sides emphasized on convening the meetings the JCC and JWG’s under it at an early date .Both sides noted that trade has been an enduring link between the two countries and stressed on the potential for further growth and diversification in bilateral trade .They also emphasized on the need for promoting exchanges of business delegations and strengthening institutional linkages .The two sides unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations ,including cross-border terrorism and called for disrupting of terrorism financing networks and safe havens ,and dismantling of terror infrastructure .Expressing appreciation of their ongoing bilateral cooperation in the area of security ,both sides agreed to enhance cooperation to counter-terrorism operations ,information and intelligence sharing ,developing and exchanging experiences ,best practices and technologies ,capacity building and to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement ,anti-money laundering ,drug trafficking and other transnational crimes .The two sides also discussed ways and means to promote cooperation in cyber security, including prevention of use of cyberspace for terrorism ,radicalization and for disturbing social harmony.PM Modi congratulated His Highness the Amir on Kuwait’s assumption of the presidency of GCC this year and expressed confidence that the growing India-GCC cooperation will be further strengthened under his visionary leadership .The following documents were signed /exchanged during the visit ,which will further deepen the multifaceted bilateral relationship as well as open avenues for newer areas of cooperation .MoU between India and Kuwait on cooperation in the field of defense was signed.-1- Cultural exchange Programme between India and Kuwait for the years 2025-2029.-2-Executive Programme between India and Kuwait on cooperation and in the field of sports for 2025-2028 between the Ministry of youth and public Authority for Youth and Sports ,government of the state of Kuwait.-3-Kuwait’s membership of international Solar Alliance-ISA .To sum up it can be said that the most recent visit of PM Modi to Kuwait will boost and strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries.In fact after America ,Russia ,there were the chants of Modi Modi reverberating in the air of Kuwait and the ties between India and Kuwait will have a quantum jump in near future.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)