Kuwait and India have reached an agreement to elevate their bilateral relationship to a “strategic partnership,” grounded in the longstanding and amicable ties between the two nations.
In a joint statement, both parties expressed their commitment to enhancing collaboration across various sectors, emphasizing that this partnership serves the mutual interests of both countries.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his inaugural visit to Kuwait on December 21-22, following an invitation from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
During his visit, Modi was a guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup for football, known as ‘Khaleeji Zain,’ held on Saturday. On Sunday, he was received at Bayan Palace by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Modi expressed profound gratitude to His Highness the Amir for bestowing upon him the “Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order.” An official meeting took place, where both sides exchanged views on various international and regional issues of mutual concern. Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also engaged in official discussions with his Indian counterpart as part of this new strategic partnership.
Read more: Kuwait-India non-oil trade surpassed $2 billion in 2022, says Chamber
Strengthening bilateral relations
The two nations reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening bilateral relations through comprehensive cooperation in diverse fields, including politics, trade, investment, defense, security, energy, culture, education, and technology. They reflected on the historic connections between their peoples, noting their shared history and cultural exchanges, and expressed satisfaction with the ongoing organized interactions that have fostered momentum in their partnership.
Establishment of joint cooperation committee
Furthermore, both sides welcomed the establishment of a joint cooperation committee (JCC) between Kuwait and India, which will function as a formal mechanism to assess and oversee all aspects of their bilateral relationship. This committee will be co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of both countries, with a joint action group set to address areas such as trade, investments, education, skills development, science, technology, security, agriculture, counter-terrorism, and ongoing sectors like health and manpower.
The two nations also highlighted the importance of trade as a vital link, identifying significant potential for growth and diversification in this area. Discussions centered around various investment opportunities in India, with Kuwait showing interest in sectors such as technology, tourism, healthcare, food security, and logistics.
Promoting a conducive investment climate
Kuwait praised India’s efforts in fostering a conducive investment climate across several sectors, including technology and tourism. Both parties emphasized the necessity of enhancing communication between Kuwait’s investment institutions and India’s funds and corporations, encouraging investments in infrastructure projects and urging relevant authorities to expedite ongoing discussions regarding bilateral investments.
Strengthening energy partnerships
In addition, they focused on strengthening partnerships in energy sectors, including oil, gas, and renewable energy, and welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in defense. This agreement aims to establish a framework for enhancing cooperation on joint military exercises and maritime defense.
Cybersecurity collaboration
They also explored collaborations in cybersecurity and the prevention of the use of cyberspace for terrorist and extremist activities. The Indian delegation praised the conclusion of the High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process,” which was hosted by Kuwait on November 4-5.
Health cooperation as a pillar
Both sides recognized health cooperation as a critical pillar of their bilateral ties, affirming their commitment to enhancing this sector. They appreciated their collaborative efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic and discussed the potential establishment of an Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Kuwait.
Advancing technology cooperation
Moreover, they expressed a desire to deepen cooperation in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence, digital methods, and emerging technologies.
Enhancing industrial growth
The two nations also focused on improving collaboration among companies, e-governance, and sharing best practices to facilitate industrial growth in both countries.
Ensuring food security
The Kuwaiti side expressed interest in working with India to ensure food security and explored various avenues for collaboration, including Kuwaiti investments in India.
Commitment to sustainable energy
India welcomed Kuwait’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), viewing it as a significant step toward fostering cooperation in adopting low-carbon strategies and promoting sustainable energy. India expressed its eagerness to collaborate with Kuwait to enhance global solar energy deployment within the ISA framework.
Civil aviation discussions
Both nations referred to recent meetings between their civil aviation authorities, with Kuwait showing interest in increasing passenger flight capacity, while India expressed readiness to find a mutually agreeable solution.
Renewal of Cultural Exchange Program
Kuwait and India also approved the renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) for 2025-2029, which will facilitate cultural exchanges in art, music, and literature festivals, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening ties between their peoples. They signed the Executive Program for Sports Cooperation for 2025-2028, aimed at enhancing athlete exchanges, organizing workshops, seminars, conferences, and sharing sports publications.
Focus on educational cooperation
The importance of education as a key area for cooperation was also emphasized, with both sides expressing interest in strengthening ties and exchanges between higher education institutions and in cooperating on educational technology to modernize educational infrastructure.
Special training for diplomats
As part of the MoU between the Kuwaiti Sheikh Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute and the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), both parties welcomed the proposal to organize a special training course for Kuwaiti diplomats and officials at the SSIFS in New Delhi.
Acknowledging people-to-people ties
Kuwait and India acknowledged the longstanding people-to-people ties that are essential to their historical relations, with Kuwait expressing appreciation for the Indian community in Kuwait and their contributions to development efforts due to their peaceful and industrious nature. Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to Kuwait’s leadership for their commitment to the welfare of the Indian community in the country.
Collaboration in workforce mobility
Both nations underscored the significance of their historic collaboration in workforce mobility and human resources, agreeing to hold regular meetings to address issues concerning expatriates, labor mobility, and other mutual interests.
Coordination in multilateral organizations
Finally, both sides commended their coordination at the UN and other multilateral organizations, with India welcoming Kuwait as a dialogue partner at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
