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Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kuwait on Saturday on a two-day visit. This is the first visit of an Indian PM to Kuwait after 4 decades. Before PM Modi, Indira Gandhi had visited Kuwait in 1981 when she was the Prime Minister. Modi got red carpet welcome at the airport.
PM Modi visited a labor camp on the first day of his visit to Kuwait. He talked to the Indian labourers, inquired about their well-being and also had breakfast together. Earlier, the PM had addressed NRIs.
Addressing NRIs, Modi said that an Indian PM has come to Kuwait after 43 years. If you have to come from India, it takes 4 hours, it took the Prime Minister 4 decades. Modi said that people in Kuwait have the facility to celebrate every festival. But I have come to celebrate you.
PM Modi had breakfast with Indian workers in Kuwait.
Artists performing Kathakali dance on the occasion of welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kuwait.
Highlights of PM Modi’s address…
1. Indians add flavor of Indianness to Kuwait
Modi said that many of you have been living in Kuwait for generations. Many people are born like this. The number of Indians living here is increasing every year. You have added the flavor of Indianness to Kuwaiti society.
You have filled the canvas of Kuwait with the colors of Indian talent, here you have mixed the spice of India’s talent, technology and tradition. I have come here not just to meet you but to celebrate the achievements of all of you.
2. Kuwait’s leadership is also impressed by the hard work of Indians
The PM said that I met the Indian laborers and employees working here. These friends are involved in construction here. Apart from this, other people are also sweating in other sectors. Doctors and nurses from the Indian community are a great strength for Kuwait’s medical infrastructure.
Indian teachers are helping to strengthen Kuwait’s next generation, engineers are building Kuwait’s next generation infrastructure. Whenever I talk to the leadership of Kuwait, they praise you a lot. Kuwaiti citizens also respect Indians for their hard work, honesty and skills.
3. India and Kuwait are linked not only by the present but also by the past.
Modi said that today India is at the forefront in the matter of remittances, so a huge credit for this goes to all your hardworking friends. The countrymen also respect your contribution. The relationship between India and Kuwait is one of civilizations and trade. India and Kuwait are situated on two banks of the Arabian Sea. We have been united not only by diplomacy but also by our hearts. Not only the present but also the past has connected us.
4. Trade between us continues since the 19th century
The PM said that there was a time when pearls and good breed horses used to go to India from Kuwait. Spices, clothes and wood used to come to Kuwait from India. The pearl of Kuwait is no less than a diamond for India. Today, Indian jewelery is famous all over the world and Kuwait’s pearls have contributed to it.
In Gujarat, we have been hearing from elders that how traders used to come to India from Kuwait. Traders from here started going to Surat in the 19th century itself. At that time Surat used to be the international market for Kuwait’s pearls. Kuwaiti businessmen have also published many books in Gujarati language. After Gujarat, Kuwaiti businessmen made their mark in Mumbai and other places.
5. The relationship between culture and commerce is reaching new heights.
PM Modi said that many businessmen from Kuwait have opened offices in many places in India for import-export. 60-65 years ago, Indian rupees used to be used in Kuwait in the same way as they are used in India. That is, Indian rupees were also accepted when purchased from any shop here. At that time, Kuwaiti people knew Indian currencies like Rupee, Paisa, Ana.
Coming to a country where so many memories are associated with the society with which our present is connected, is very memorable for me. I am grateful to the people of Kuwait and the government here. I thank the Emir of Kuwait for his invitation. The relationship that culture and commerce had built in the past is moving towards new heights in the new century.
6. India has the technology and manpower to build New Kuwait.
PM Modi said that the tradition of being together in every happiness is the foundation of our mutual relationship and mutual trust. Our motives are not very different. Just as the people of Kuwait are engaged in building a New Kuwait, similarly the people of India are engaged in building India 2047. India today is emphasizing on innovation. Is engaged in strengthening the economy.
India’s skilled youth can give new strength to Kuwait. India is going to remain the youngest country in the world for many decades to come. In such a situation, India has the capability to meet the skill demand of the world. For this, India is developing the skills of its youth. India signed agreements with two dozen countries for this.
7. Wherever Indians are, they are happy with the country’s success.
Modi said that all of you came from India and lived here but have preserved Indianness in your heart. Who would be an Indian who would not be proud of the success of Mangalyaan, who would not be happy with Chandrayaan’s landing on the Moon… Today’s India is moving forward with a new mood.
India is the 5th largest economy in the world. Today, India has the world’s largest fintech ecosystem and the third largest startup ecosystem in India. Is the second largest mobile manufacturer. The amount of optical fiber that India has laid in the last 10 years. Its length is 8 times more than the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
8. India will soon be the hub of world development
PM said that India is one of the most digitally connected countries in the world. From small towns to villages, every Indian is using digital technology. In India, it is no longer a luxury but has become a part of the everyday needs of the common man. People use digital methods to drink tea, order ration, buy fruits. Delivery takes place within a very short time and payment is also made.
There is Digi Locker for documents, Digi Yatra for airport, Fastag to save time in travelling. India is continuously becoming digitally smart. This is just the beginning. India is going to move towards such innovation which will show direction to the world. Will be the hub of world development. India will be the world’s green energy hub, pharma hub and electronics hub. The world’s biggest economic centers will be in India.
9. India is teaching healthy lifestyle to the world
The PM said that we consider the entire world as one family. India is moving forward as a world friend with the thought of welfare of the world. The world is also respecting this spirit of India. Today the world is celebrating its first World Meditation Day. It is dedicated to thousands of years of tradition of India.
Since 2015, the world is celebrating Yoga Day on 21st June. This is also dedicated to the yoga tradition of India. Today India’s yoga is connecting every region of the world. Today, India’s traditional medicine Ayurveda is enriching global wellness. Superfood millets are becoming the basis of a healthy lifestyle.
The knowledge system from Nalanda to IIT is becoming the basis of the global system. India Middle East Corridor was announced during the G20 Summit last year. This is going to give a new direction to the world.
10. Come to attend Mahakumbh, bring friends also
PM invited NRIs to visit India. He said that the first month of the new year is going to be the month of many national festivals this time. This year, Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas will be organized in Bhubaneswar from today to January 10. People from all over the world will come here. I invite you all for this.
Mahakumbh is going to be organized in Prayagraj. Will run from 13 January to 26 February. You come to India to participate in this and bring your Kuwaiti friends also.
5 footage of PM Modi related to Kuwait tour…
PM Modi meeting Indian laborers at Spic Labor Camp.
Ramayana and Mahabharata translated into Arabic language were presented to PM Modi.
PM Modi met 101-year-old former IFS officer Mangal Sen Handa. Modi shook hands with him and asked about his well-being.
PM Modi participated in Kathakali dance program in Kuwait.
People of the Indian community welcoming PM Modi with the tricolor in their hands in Kuwait.
Modi will be welcomed by guard of honor at Amir’s palace tomorrow PM Modi will be honored with a guard of honor at Bayan Palace in Kuwait tomorrow. After this he will hold separate meetings with the Amir Sheikh and the Crown Prince of Kuwait. Trade in local currency between the two countries can also be discussed in the bilateral meeting.
PM Modi will be welcomed with a guard of honor at the same Bayan Palace in Kuwait.
Prime Minister Modi posted on X after reaching Kuwait…
Congress takes a jibe at PM’s visit – go to Manipur too
Congress party has targeted PM’s visit to Kuwait. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Prime Minister Modi, who tours frequently, is going to Kuwait instead of Manipur. Violence has been going on in Manipur for the last one year. Jairam Ramesh further said-
Prime Minister Modi is not able to decide any date for his visit to Manipur. The people there are waiting for the PM but he is going to Kuwait.
In fact, after the Manipur violence, whenever the Prime Minister goes on a foreign tour, Congress reminds him to visit Manipur. Recently, when Prime Minister Modi was on a visit to three countries Brazil, Nigeria and Guyana in November, Congress had also questioned PM Modi about visiting Manipur.
Preparation to reach Gulf countries through Kuwait
The Foreign Ministry has described PM’s visit to Kuwait as an important step in improving relations with Gulf countries. The ministry said-
India and Kuwait enjoy traditionally deep relations, rooted in history. It is based on strong relationships between people. India is one of Kuwait’s top trading partners. This will further strengthen the multidimensional relations between India and Kuwait.
Kuwait is chairing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It also includes United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. Kuwait is the only Gulf country where Modi has not visited even once since becoming Prime Minister. Gulf countries are major partners for India on the basis of energy, investment and trade.
What is JCC organization? Gulf Cooperation Council (JCC) is an organization of Gulf countries. This includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. In the year 2022-23, India has a trade of more than Rs 18 thousand crore with JCC countries.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Kuwait is at sixth position among the countries supplying crude oil to India. There was a trade of about Rs 1000 crore between the two countries in the year 2023-24. India is continuously in talks with GCC for a free trade agreement. This visit of PM Modi will further improve relations between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Trade has been going on between the two countries since years ago
Diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait were established in 1961. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Kuwait have been friends for years. When there was no oil business in Kuwait. At that time sea trade with India was important for Kuwait’s economy. Then new ships, precious pearls, fish, dates, Arabian horses and wood were sent to India from Kuwait.
Besides, there was trade in spices, grains and clothes between the two countries. In Kuwait, transactions took place in Indian currency till 1961. Which reveals the economic and cultural relations between the two countries.
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