Kuwait's Ambassador to New Delhi: Kuwait-India Relations Chart a Path Rich in Achievements, Crowned by Signing 40 Agreements and MoUs

Kuwait’s Ambassador to India, Meshal Al-Shammari, affirmed that the 65th anniversary of Kuwait-India diplomatic relations, celebrated by both countries this year, embodies a long journey rooted in ancient history and a friendship whose origins date back six centuries, built on deep, interconnected, and close commercial, social, and humanitarian ties.

Ambassador Al-Shammari told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Monday that the 65-year trajectory of Kuwait-India relations has charted a path rich in achievements, culminating in the signing of nearly 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding for cooperation across various fields, including politics, defense, economy, trade, investment, education, culture, health, sports, labor, civil aviation, energy, and more.

He added that several agreements and memoranda of understanding are still under review and negotiation between the two sides and will soon come to fruition, contributing to strengthening the strategic partnership in the coming phase, particularly in its economic and commercial dimensions.

He noted that the two countries share deep historical ties, which emerged thanks to communication and trade via maritime routes, until relations took on an official character with the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1961, and were further strengthened through high-level visits between officials of both countries.

He clarified that continuous exchanges of visits at various levels contributed to the development and growth of bilateral relations across all dimensions, elevating them to the level of a strategic partnership. This occurred during the historic visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait in December 2024, reflecting mutual commitment to realizing the aspirations of the two friendly peoples within the framework of national visions for the future, represented by Kuwait Vision 2035 and Viksit Bharat 2047 (Developed India by 2047).

Ambassador Al-Shammari explained that within the framework of this strategic partnership and based on the shared commitment to elevate relations to broader horizons, the bilateral trajectory has shown a noticeable upward trend, evident in continuous coordination between the political and economic leaderships of both countries, especially amid current geopolitical tensions, and in the continuity of political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs, alongside meetings of joint committees and specialized working groups.

He pointed out that these mechanisms contribute to enhancing efforts aimed at achieving mutual benefits from the strategic partnership, and it is hoped that they will help expand the base of the deep-rooted historical ties between the two countries and open new horizons in line with the requirements of the times, through continuing high-level visits, expanding the scope of cooperation, sharing expertise and visions, and strengthening people-to-people ties.

He stated that India is one of Kuwait’s most important trading partners, with Kuwaiti investments in India successfully operating in vital sectors that contribute to the development of the Indian economy and benefit the diversification of income sources for the Kuwaiti economy.

He expressed hope that the coming phase will witness greater flows of Kuwaiti investments into India, and conversely, Indian investments in the Kuwaiti market in fields that contribute to elevating the national economy. He also noted that Kuwait is among the most important suppliers of oil and gas to India, with its exports covering about 5 percent of India’s energy needs.

Ambassador Al-Shammari indicated that Kuwait Vision 2035 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 provide an excellent opportunity to develop and expand the frameworks of bilateral cooperation in various fields, striving to achieve mutual benefits that contribute to meeting the aspirations of the peoples of both countries.

In this context, he expressed hope for the continuation of Kuwaiti-Indian cooperation, which is built on solid foundations and firm principles, “anticipating that the coming years will witness further progress, growth, and prosperity in the strategic partnership relations between the two friendly countries.”