Narendra Modi, is set to visit Kuwait on December 21-22.

 The Indian Prime Minister’s visit, long overdue, has many opportunities to develop an important bilateral relationship

भारतीय प्रधानमंत्री की यात्रा, जो काफी समय से प्रतीक्षित थी, महत्वपूर्ण द्विपक्षीय संबंध विकसित करने के कई अवसर प्रदान करती है।

 Narendra Modi, is set to visit Kuwait on December 21-22. 

First in 43 yrs

visit will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years, the last being the visit by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981. 

Mr. Modi was scheduled to visit Kuwait in January 2022, but the visit was postponed due to concerns about COVID-19.

Some other countries visit 

Mr. Modi has visited all the other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) over the past 10 years, some more than once, and not having visited Kuwait was seen as a gap in India’s West Asia engagement. 

A country with strategic significance

Why Is Kuwait important?

Despite being one of the smallest countries in the region, it holds significant strategic importance.

Location in gulf 

Located at the north-east end of the Persian Gulf, it shares borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia and hosts important American military bases. 

It is the only monarchy in the region which has experimented successfully with democracy. On regional issues, it has generally maintained a neutral stance and has often been the interlocutor in resolving disputes.

Its wealth 

primarily to its vast oil reserves, which are sixth-largest globally.

 It is also one of the founding members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

sovereign wealth funds

It also has one of the largest basket sovereign wealth funds. 

These funds, managed by the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), have grown at an impressive rate and are currently estimated to be $924 billion (in March 2024), the fourth largest in the world after Norway, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Untapped potential, existing links

history and cultural bonds

First from independence 

India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Kuwait following its independence from the British Protectorate in 1961. 

Indian rupee

In fact, the Indian rupee was a legal tender in Kuwait till 1961.

Trade and people-to-people ties

1 India has consistently been among the top trading partners of Kuwait, with the total bilateral trade with Kuwait during FY 2023-24 being $ 10.47 billion. 

2 During FY2023-24, Kuwait was the sixth largest crude supplier catering to about 3.0 % of India’s total energy needs. 

3 The KIA has invested indirectly in India with estimated investments of more than US$10 billion.

brotherhood in both countries 

During the COVID-19 pandemic too, India and Kuwait demonstrated a strong sense of brotherhood. India provided two lakh vaccine doses.

 During the second wave of COVID-19 in May 2021, Kuwait provided 

• 282 oxygen cylinders, 
• 60 oxygen concentrators, 
• ventilators and 
• many other medical supplies to India.

People-to-people ties 

1 Out of a population of almost 4.9 million, around 1 million Indians not only form the largest expatriate group in Kuwait but are also among the most trusted. 

2 As a special gesture, a ‘Festival of India’ was organised in Kuwait in March 2023. 

3 Namaste Kuwait 

A weekly Hindi radio programme, ‘Namaste Kuwait has been started by Kuwait National Radio since April 2024. 

4 CBSC in school

26 schools in Kuwait with over 60,000 students, follow the Central Board of Secondary Education curriculum of India.

5 fire accident

When tragedy struck on June 12, in the form of a fire in a residential building in Kuwait killing over 40 Indians, Kuwait rendered help and repatriated their mortal remains quickly.

Areas to elevate ties

We have some opportunities

Modi’s visit, therefore, offers the perfect opportunity to set things moving. 

comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Kuwait

The signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Kuwait could be the ideal start. 

agreement on defence 

cooperation could be signed too. 

Invite for ISA 

India has invited Kuwait to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which Kuwait is likely to accept. 

KIA and NIIF

An agreement between KIA and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in India could be mutually beneficial and give impetus to growth in India.

Oil reserves

Like the UAE, Kuwait could become an important partner for storing strategic oil reserves in India.

What India can do ?

Kuwait’s ‘Vision 2035

From India, helping Kuwait in building its infrastructure under Kuwait’s ‘Vision 2035’ could be a good initiative. 

Setting up institutes of higher education, such as the 

• Indian Institute of Technology 
• the Indian Institute of Management,
•  modern hospitals in Kuwait could boost people-to-people ties. 

additional seats for its airlines

Kuwait’s request for additional seats for its airlines from India (in addition to 12,000 seats per week allotted), could be considered as a special exemption, 

Cooperation in space 

including launching satellites for Kuwait would make good headlines too.

The scope for Kuwait-India ties is huge and the wish list endless. Hopefully, this visit will provide the perfect platform to kick-start a golden era in this very important bilateral relationship.

Source the hindu