Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his two-day visit to Kuwait on Saturday, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in over four decades. The last visit of this kind occurred 43 years ago, when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi traveled to Kuwait in 1981. Although former Vice President Hamid Ansari visited Kuwait in 2009, this marks a significant visit by a sitting Indian Prime Minister.
During the two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi will engage with Kuwait’s leadership, including meetings with Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister. These high-level discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral relations in areas such as trade, investment, energy, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connections.
Prime Minister Modi is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of the Amir. The trip will also include a visit to a labor camp housing Indian blue-collar workers, an interaction with the Indian community, and attendance at the inauguration of the Gulf Cup football tournament.
Before his departure, Prime Minister Modi shared on X, expressing his anticipation for the visit: “Today and tomorrow, I will be visiting Kuwait. This visit will deepen India’s historical linkages with Kuwait. I look forward to meeting His Highness the Amir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait.” He also mentioned attending the “Hala Modi” community event, which will be held at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has expressed that this visit is expected to open a new chapter in India-Kuwait relations. Arun Kumar Chatterjee, the Secretary for Overseas Indian Affairs, stated that the visit would consolidate existing partnerships and explore new avenues for cooperation, reinforcing shared values and strengthening bilateral ties. He added that discussions were underway for a bilateral investment treaty and a defense cooperation agreement.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit is expected to further enhance ties between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), chaired by Kuwait. The GCC is a key regional group comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. India’s trade with the GCC countries reached USD 184.46 billion in the 2022-23 financial year.
India and Kuwait enjoy strong trade relations, with India being one of Kuwait’s top trading partners. In 2023-24, two-way trade reached $10.47 billion, with Indian exports rising by 34.7%. Kuwait is India’s sixth-largest crude oil supplier, providing 3% of India’s energy needs. Additionally, investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed $10 billion. The Indian community in Kuwait, which numbers around one million, is the largest expatriate group in the country.
